Sunol Water Temple

The Sunol Water Temple was built in 1910 by Spring Valley Water Company, the predecessor to the current San Francisco Public Utility Commission, to mark the confluence of three water sources in the Alameda Watershed that served as the primary water source for San Francisco before the completion of the Hetch Hetchy aqueduct project. The Beax Arts style monument was modeled after the Temple of Vesta in Tivoli, Italy and features 12 Corinthian columns supporting the 60 foot high red tile roof. After completion of the Hetch Hetchy project the San Francisco PUC built the Pulgas Water Temple. Sunol Water Temple was designated a California Historical Engineering Landmark in 1976 by the American Society of Civil Engineers.