Purified Water Project
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. This project 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 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.
What are your questions about the Purified Water Project?
FAQs
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The Basics
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Safety
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Other Project Details
- Why is another purified water treatment facility needed when we already have the Silicon Valley Advanced Water Purification Center?
- How much will the Project cost? How is it being funded?
- What is the Project’s schedule?
- How much purified water will the proposed Purified Water Project produce for groundwater recharge?
- How much energy is required to purify water?
- Following the Reverse Osmosis (RO) stage of the purification process, what happens to the concentrate or brine? Does the RO concentrate harm the environment?
- How is Valley Water working with other agencies on completing this project?
- Once the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) is finalized, how will modifications that arise during the planning process be addressed?
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The Future
Desalination
Videos
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Learn more about the advanced water purification process and the existing Silicon Valley Advanced Water Purification Center
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This video conversation briefly summarizes key drivers and associated challenges related to rapidly expanding reuse in California. California Urban Water Agencies, otherwise known as CUWA, is a non-profit corporation made up of 11 major urban water agencies located across California.