Valley Water was recently awarded $680,429 in grants from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation for two planning efforts aimed at expanding Santa Clara County’s use of recycled and purified water. The funding will be used to help prepare feasibility studies for projects designed to create and expand new water supply sources that are less vulnerable to drought and climate change.
Here is a summary of the two Valley Water efforts that received grants from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.
The South County Water Reuse Program Feasibility Study Project received a $299,180 grant to support the expansion and distribution of additional recycled water in Morgan Hill and Gilroy. The proposed study will focus on assessing the feasibility of implementing new treatment and recycled water pipeline projects that were identified as part of the 2015 South County Recycled Water Master Plan Update.
The study continues Valley Water’s efforts to expand recycled water in South County. On Oct. 4, 2023, Valley Water held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the South County Recycled Water Pipeline Project at the South County Regional Wastewater Authority. This project expands the distribution of recycled water service to new customers in South Santa Clara County and supports future system expansion opportunities. The United States Bureau of Reclamation awarded Valley Water a $5.7 million grant to help fund the project’s $23 million cost.
The San José-Santa Clara Purified Water Program Feasibility Study received $381,249 to help assess building a new Advanced Water Purification Facility in San José.
Valley Water currently operates the Silicon Valley Advanced Water Purification Center, which produces 8 million gallons per day of purified water. This water is used to enhance the quality of recycled water for industrial and landscape uses in San Jose, Santa Clara and Milpitas.
A second facility would allow Valley Water to produce purified water to be used as part of our county’s drinking water supply. This new supply of purified water could be used to replenish groundwater supplies or be used directly in our water system.
Valley Water appreciates the investment from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation in these studies. Our agency continues to invest in recycled water projects and is working to expand our water reuse efforts through purified water technology that can provide millions of gallons per day of high-quality, drought-resilient water for drinking and non-drinking purposes.