Purified Water Project

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About the Project

Valley Water must meet future water demand and identify a sustainable water supply to combat the effects of future droughts and climate change. A Potable Reuse Project will help reach those water supply goals, which include meeting at least ten percent of water demand in Santa Clara County through recycled and purified water. Pure Water Silicon Valley is envisioned to be a Direct Potable Reuse project located in San José and will allow Valley Water to develop the use of purified water to supplement existing drinking water sources in a manner that minimizes environmental impacts and protects public health.

The Valley Water Board of Directors has directed staff to develop a potable reuse project, Pure Water Silicon Valley, with the cities of San José and Santa Clara who own and operate the San José -Santa Clara Regional Wastewater Facility, the largest in the county.


What is Purified Water? How is it different from recycled water?

Water has always been nature’s renewable resource. Purifying and recycling water simply speeds up that natural process. Recycled water generally refers to municipal wastewater that has been cleaned and meets requirements for industrial and irrigation use. Purified water is highly treated municipal wastewater that has gone through additional advanced treatment and disinfection to meet and exceed state and federal drinking water standards.


How Safe is Purified Water?

Purified water is safe and meets or exceeds state and federal drinking water standards. It is tested regularly by our certified Water Quality Lab to ensure safety and quality. Upon completion of the Purified Water Project, Valley Water will be able to use purified water to add to our groundwater replenishment efforts. Valley Water will join many other places in the United States and worldwide in using this water purification and replenishment method, including Monterey and Orange counties in California, Texas, Australia, and Singapore. To learn more about how purified water is used as a drinking water source and the purification treatment process, please visit purewater4u.org. There, you can also sign up for tours of the existing Silicon Valley Advanced Water Purification Center.


About the Project

Valley Water must meet future water demand and identify a sustainable water supply to combat the effects of future droughts and climate change. A Potable Reuse Project will help reach those water supply goals, which include meeting at least ten percent of water demand in Santa Clara County through recycled and purified water. Pure Water Silicon Valley is envisioned to be a Direct Potable Reuse project located in San José and will allow Valley Water to develop the use of purified water to supplement existing drinking water sources in a manner that minimizes environmental impacts and protects public health.

The Valley Water Board of Directors has directed staff to develop a potable reuse project, Pure Water Silicon Valley, with the cities of San José and Santa Clara who own and operate the San José -Santa Clara Regional Wastewater Facility, the largest in the county.


What is Purified Water? How is it different from recycled water?

Water has always been nature’s renewable resource. Purifying and recycling water simply speeds up that natural process. Recycled water generally refers to municipal wastewater that has been cleaned and meets requirements for industrial and irrigation use. Purified water is highly treated municipal wastewater that has gone through additional advanced treatment and disinfection to meet and exceed state and federal drinking water standards.


How Safe is Purified Water?

Purified water is safe and meets or exceeds state and federal drinking water standards. It is tested regularly by our certified Water Quality Lab to ensure safety and quality. Upon completion of the Purified Water Project, Valley Water will be able to use purified water to add to our groundwater replenishment efforts. Valley Water will join many other places in the United States and worldwide in using this water purification and replenishment method, including Monterey and Orange counties in California, Texas, Australia, and Singapore. To learn more about how purified water is used as a drinking water source and the purification treatment process, please visit purewater4u.org. There, you can also sign up for tours of the existing Silicon Valley Advanced Water Purification Center.


  • WATER OF THE FUTURE - PURIFIED WATER VIDEO

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    Purified water: locally-controlled and drought-proof. This sustainable water supply will protect us from reoccurring droughts and climate change, securing a reliable water source for our future.

    Learn more at purewater4u.org


    Purified water: locally-controlled and drought-proof. This sustainable water supply will protect us from reoccurring droughts and climate change, securing a reliable water source for our future.

    Learn more at purewater4u.org


  • SANTA CLARA COUNTY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION ENDORSES VALLEY WATER’S PURIFIED WATER PROJECT

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    supporting image

    Following a series of presentations and discussions with representatives from Valley Water, the Santa Clara County Medical Association (SCCMA) endorsed the Purified Water Project as a safe and healthy option to add to our water supply. According to the SCCMA Committee on Environmental Health, “based on its extensive regulation and treatment, recycled [purified water] is safe for human consumption.”

    Read more here.

    Following a series of presentations and discussions with representatives from Valley Water, the Santa Clara County Medical Association (SCCMA) endorsed the Purified Water Project as a safe and healthy option to add to our water supply. According to the SCCMA Committee on Environmental Health, “based on its extensive regulation and treatment, recycled [purified water] is safe for human consumption.”

    Read more here.

  • HELP US MEET OUR GOAAAAAAAAAAL! VALLEY WATER, THE SAN JOSE SHARKS, AND YOU!

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  • VALLEY WATER AND THE 49ERS – WITH CONSERVATION AND PURIFIED WATER, TOGETHER, OUR FUTURE IS DROUGHT-PROOF

    Share VALLEY WATER AND THE 49ERS – WITH CONSERVATION AND PURIFIED WATER, TOGETHER, OUR FUTURE IS DROUGHT-PROOF on Facebook Share VALLEY WATER AND THE 49ERS – WITH CONSERVATION AND PURIFIED WATER, TOGETHER, OUR FUTURE IS DROUGHT-PROOF on Twitter Share VALLEY WATER AND THE 49ERS – WITH CONSERVATION AND PURIFIED WATER, TOGETHER, OUR FUTURE IS DROUGHT-PROOF on Linkedin Email VALLEY WATER AND THE 49ERS – WITH CONSERVATION AND PURIFIED WATER, TOGETHER, OUR FUTURE IS DROUGHT-PROOF link



  • WHAT IS PURIFIED WATER?

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    Come inside the Silicon Valley Advanced Water Purification Center and see how we are working to purify used water so clean, it can one day come out of the tap again!

    Watch how we purify and recycle water.



    Come inside the Silicon Valley Advanced Water Purification Center and see how we are working to purify used water so clean, it can one day come out of the tap again!

    Watch how we purify and recycle water.



  • PURIFIED WATER AND CONSERVATION: TOGETHER OUR FUTURE IS DROUGHT-PROOF

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    Working together will get us through the drought. Visit watersavings.org to learn more.


    Working together will get us through the drought. Visit watersavings.org to learn more.


  • SEPT. 23, 2021 PRESS CONFERENCE ON PURIFIED WATER

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  • GEOTECHNICAL WORK AT THE PALO ALTO SITE

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    Starting mid-May 2021, Valley Water will conduct a geotechnical study at the former Los Altos Treatment Plant at 1237 San Antonio Road in Palo Alto for the Purified Water Project. This site is one of two locations under study for a future advanced water purification facility. As part of the project planning process, Valley Water contractors will conduct geotechnical investigations using a drill rig to evaluate the condition of the site’s soil.

    Work will occur between the hours of 7 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, and is expected to last approximately a week. Trail and traffic impacts are not anticipated. A biological survey will be done prior to the drilling to ensure the protection of sensitive species and habitat.

    Starting mid-May 2021, Valley Water will conduct a geotechnical study at the former Los Altos Treatment Plant at 1237 San Antonio Road in Palo Alto for the Purified Water Project. This site is one of two locations under study for a future advanced water purification facility. As part of the project planning process, Valley Water contractors will conduct geotechnical investigations using a drill rig to evaluate the condition of the site’s soil.

    Work will occur between the hours of 7 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, and is expected to last approximately a week. Trail and traffic impacts are not anticipated. A biological survey will be done prior to the drilling to ensure the protection of sensitive species and habitat.

  • MISS THE SCOPING MEETING? WATCH THE RECORDING

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    If you missed a part or all of the virtual scoping meeting, you can watch the meeting recording above. The project's Notice of Preparation is also available for public review and comments on the scope of environmental analysis in the Environmental Impact Report (EIR). Brief details about the proposed project's purpose and objectives, an alternative to the proposed project, potential environmental impacts, and the resulting need for the EIR will be found in the project's Notice of Preparation (NOP). The NOP is posted and available for review at Valley Water's "Public Review Documents(External link)" site.

    Responsible and trustee agencies, and other interested agencies, organizations, and individuals, are invited to provide written comments on the scope and content of the Draft EIR. Comments must be sent at the earliest possible date, but no later than 5 p.m. on Tuesday, April 27, 2021. Please include a name and contact information alongside your formal comments to:

    Elise Latedjou-Durand
    Valley Water
    5750 Almaden Expressway
    San José, CA 95118
    (408) 630-3095
    EDurand@valleywater.org

    If you missed a part or all of the virtual scoping meeting, you can watch the meeting recording above. The project's Notice of Preparation is also available for public review and comments on the scope of environmental analysis in the Environmental Impact Report (EIR). Brief details about the proposed project's purpose and objectives, an alternative to the proposed project, potential environmental impacts, and the resulting need for the EIR will be found in the project's Notice of Preparation (NOP). The NOP is posted and available for review at Valley Water's "Public Review Documents(External link)" site.

    Responsible and trustee agencies, and other interested agencies, organizations, and individuals, are invited to provide written comments on the scope and content of the Draft EIR. Comments must be sent at the earliest possible date, but no later than 5 p.m. on Tuesday, April 27, 2021. Please include a name and contact information alongside your formal comments to:

    Elise Latedjou-Durand
    Valley Water
    5750 Almaden Expressway
    San José, CA 95118
    (408) 630-3095
    EDurand@valleywater.org

  • JOIN OUR PUBLIC VIRTUAL SCOPING MEETING ON MONDAY, MARCH 29, 2021

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    Valley Water is hosting a virtual scoping meeting for the Purified Water Project on Monday, March 29, 2021 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

    At this meeting, the community will learn more about the project, the planning process and provide feedback related to environmental impacts that will be analyzed as part of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) process.

    Meeting Details

    CEQA Public Review (Spring 2021)

    In addition to the scoping meeting, Valley Water is welcoming public comment on the scope of environmental analysis in the Environmental

    Valley Water is hosting a virtual scoping meeting for the Purified Water Project on Monday, March 29, 2021 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

    At this meeting, the community will learn more about the project, the planning process and provide feedback related to environmental impacts that will be analyzed as part of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) process.

    Meeting Details

    CEQA Public Review (Spring 2021)

    In addition to the scoping meeting, Valley Water is welcoming public comment on the scope of environmental analysis in the Environmental Impact Report (EIR). Brief details about the proposed project's purpose and objectives, an alternative to the proposed project, potential environmental impacts, and the resulting need for the EIR will be found in the project's Notice of Preparation (NOP). The NOP is posted and available for review at Valley Water's "Public Review Documents" site.

    Responsible and trustee agencies, and other interested agencies, organizations, and individuals, are invited to provide written comments on the scope and content of the Draft EIR. Comments must be sent at the earliest possible date, but no later than 5 p.m. on Tuesday, April 27, 2021. Please include a name and contact information alongside your formal comments to:

    Elise Latedjou-Durand
    Valley Water
    5750 Almaden Expressway
    San José, CA 95118
    (408) 630-3095
    EDurand@valleywater.org


    Camden groundwater replenishment pond near Los Gatos Creek


Page last updated: 02 Jun 2025, 09:00 AM