It’s no surprise the Silicon Valley is a national leader in technology, sustainable energy and economic output. And in true Silicon Valley fashion, a new analysis by the Bay Area Council Economic Institute revealed the country’s technology hub generates more economic value per unit of water consumed than any other metropolitan region in the U.S.
Water, not only critical for survival, is an essential force in fueling a thriving economy. Industrial uses of water include in cooling towers, restroom facilities, supporting construction and development efforts, and sustaining daily business operations. And for every drop used, the Silicon Valley generates a productive penny.
The study found that the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara metro region contributes more than half a million dollars to the local economy per every acre-foot of water consumed, or roughly the amount of water used by two families of five in a year.
The Bay Area Council Economic Institute closely examined the country’s top 15 metro regions as defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, and the regions’ gross domestic product based on the U.S. Department of Commerce Bureau of Economic Analysis.
According to the study, the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara Metropolitan area, with a population of roughly 1.2 million, consumes about 467,000 acre-feet of water per year. That’s only 21 percent of the average water consumption across all 15 regions examined (2,217,352 acre-feet). Read more about the study and findings here.
The Santa Clara Valley Water District provides Silicon Valley with safe, clean water for a healthy life, environment and economy. The water district is focused on preparing for future wet and dry years to ensure Santa Clara County’s 1.9 million residents have a reliable water supply. By making smart investments in new and innovative technologies like recycled water, or expanding infrastructure and modernizing current delivery structures, we strive to power the Silicon Valley. But it isn’t a one sided effort.
The region’s water efficiency is a concerted effort of residents and businesses to establish long-term water-wise habits. With some help from the water district, residents and businesses in Santa Clara County are equipped with water-efficient materials, education and resources to make conservation a way of life.
To learn more about conservation and available resources visit www.watersavings.org.
Valley Water News 
Is interesting that this article Props their Managment, when in reality there are many flaws and wasted water by then alone by letting Are reservoir run so low, that the county tax paying residents can’t even use the lakes . So why are you praising them for water conservation? It’s really a big joke as we compare Santa Clara county with Eastbay MUD .
LikeLike