COMMITTEE AGENDA MEMORANDUM
Recycled Water Committee
Government Code § 84308 Applies: Yes ☐ No ☒
(If “YES” Complete Attachment A - Gov. Code § 84308)
SUBJECT: title
Receive Pure Water Silicon Valley Update, Including Demonstration Facility and Full-Scale Direct Potable Reuse Facility at the Silicon Valley Advanced Water Purification Center; and Ongoing Outreach.
End
RECOMMENDATION: Recommendation
A. Receive an update on Pure Water Silicon Valley, including the following topics: Demonstration Facility and Full-Scale Direct Potable Reuse Facility at the Silicon Valley Advanced Water Purification Center; and
B. Ongoing Outreach
Body
SUMMARY:
A. Update on Demonstration Facility and Full-Scale Direct Potable Reuse Facility at the
Silicon Valley Advanced Water Purification Center (SVAWPC)
Santa Clara Valley Water District (Valley Water) and the Cities of San Jose and Santa Clara (Cities) continue to meet on a regular basis to work on various elements of the Direct Potable Reuse (DPR) Demonstration facility. The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) remains interested in a partnership on this project.
The Exclusive Negotiation Agreement (ENA) to reserve space for the full-scale facility is in the process of being executed by all parties.
On June 9, 2026, the Valley Water Board approved an agreement with AECOM Technical Services for a not-to-exceed amount of $4,499,917. The agreement includes design and bid award services for the Pure Water Silicon Valley Demonstration Facility Project which is comprised of a 200 gallons per minute (gpm) DPR Pilot Treatment Facility inside the SVAWPC site and a new 2-acre state of the art Learning Center complex adjacent to the purification center. AECOM’s work will include preparation of two sets of design documents for construction of the Pilot Facility and the Learning Center to expedite the full-scale DPR Project. The not-to-exceed amount is within the budgeted amount and will not change the overall Total Project Cost.
Coordination with regulatory agencies is ongoing with monthly meetings with the Division of Drinking Water (DDW).
On June 23, 2026, the Board approved a contract with the National Water Research Institute (NWRI) to contribute towards the California Validation (CalVal) effort for a not to exceed amount of $500,000. CalVal is a multi-year statewide initiative that brings together regulators, utilities, researchers, and industry experts to develop standardized treatment validation procedures and permitting guidance for potable reuse projects throughout California to streamline permitting efforts. NWRI is a nonprofit, uniquely qualified to perform this work as the independent manager of the CalVal Program and a nationally recognized leader in potable reuse research, guidance development, and regulator-utility collaboration. Valley Water's participation directly supports the Pure Water Silicon Valley Project by advancing development of Direct Potable Reuse (DPR)-specific validation guidance. Through this agreement, Valley Water will become a Foundational Partner of CalVal, providing a leadership role in shaping statewide DPR validation guidance.
Valley Water and City staff are also coordinating on the US Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) grant funded feasibility study, which, once completed, will make the project eligible for construction grants. The first task in the study defined the project definition and performed a baseline analysis, and included:
• An examination of existing agreements, memoranda, regulatory permits, governance (ordinances, regulations) and planning documents, etc. to define roles and responsibilities and identify conditions that could impact the project.
• A review and analysis of available data and information to develop a project baseline and framework that addresses service area, source water demands, regulatory permitting, environmental issues, benefits, etc.
• A review of funding requirements to evaluate technical elements for the Feasibility Study and identify information gaps, approaches to resolve data gaps, sources of needed information, and prioritization of activities to maintain schedule and budget.
Staff have now initiated the development of feasibility study elements based upon USBR requirements and guidelines that summarize project background, regulatory drivers, project decisions, and permitting milestones to frame the study report.
B. Ongoing Outreach
General Purified Water Outreach
Staff continues to conduct tours of the Silicon Valley Advanced Water Purification Center (SVAWPC) and implement outreach initiatives to build support for potable reuse, which include:
• Internal Outreach - As part of our ongoing efforts to reach our internal employees, staff distributed purified water popsicles at the Taste of Inclusion event and hosted a tour for new hires during the New Hire Fun Bus event.
• External Outreach - In May and June, staff led several targeted outreach initiatives, which include the following:
o On May 1, 2026, the WaterReuse Association Northern California chapter held its quarterly meeting at Valley Water. Staff hosted an outreach table and distributed informational materials, purified water bottles, and purified water popsicles to engage and build support for purified water.
o On May 30, 2026, staff conducted a Water 101 Academy Infrastructure Bus Tour with the 2026 cohort and their guests. The tour included stops at the Water Quality Lab, the Anderson Dam Seismic Retrofit Project, the Upper Llagas Flood Protection Project, the Silicon Valley Advanced Water Purification Center, and the Rinconada Water Treatment Plant Reliability Improvement Project.
o On May 28 and June 25, 2026, in an effort to continue building support for potable reuse with seniors, staff attended the kick-off event for Happy Hollow’s Senior Safari and hosted a booth with informational materials on purified water.
o On June 20, 2026, Staff showcased purified water Aguas Frescas at a joint town hall hosted by Assemblymember Patrick Ahrens and Valley Water Board Director Ballard. The town hall informed the community about several Valley Water programs and provided an opportunity for community members to ask questions.
• Purified Water Tour Program - In May and June 2026, 260 visitors toured the SVAWPC, which includes public and youth tours, as well as private tours with industry professionals, such as the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials. Information about public and private tours is available on the PureWater4U.org website. Public tours are typically held on the first Friday and second Saturday of each month.
• Public Perception Poll - On June 22, 2026, staff launched its annual public perception poll on potable reuse to gauge public understanding and acceptance of purified water as a part of our drinking water supply. Following the poll, staff will work with program consultants, EMC, to conduct focus groups.
• Demonstration Water Bottle Distribution - As of June 2026, 9,660 purified water bottles have been distributed during tours and employee and community events in FY 2026.
• The Water We Share Lesson - Valley Water continues to provide the Water We Share Lesson to Santa Clara County students through in-class presentations and during youth tours. The lesson provides education on purified water and engages students in an activity to create posters promoting purified water.
• WaterReuse California Conference - Staff will represent Valley Water at the WaterReuse California Conference on August 24-26, 2026. During the conference, attendees are invited on a special tour of the SVAWPC. Staff will also present multiple informational sessions at the conference, including strategies for engaging youth to build community support for purified water. In addition, WaterReuse California will be presenting Valley Water with the Recycled Water Outreach or Education Program of the Year Award.
Outreach Coordination in Santa Clara County and the Bay Area
Staff continues to meet and collaborate with water utilities on water reuse. On May 5, 2026, Valley Water co-led the Bay Area Potable Reuse Outreach Collaboration meeting with the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC). At the meeting, the SFPUC presented results from their most recent public perception poll on potable reuse. Additionally, on June 24, 2026, staff met with South Bay Water Recycling to discuss ways our Water Supply Outreach program can collaborate on outreach initiatives related to recycled water. Lastly, staff will host the City of San Jose’s Environmental Services Department in July. Staff will continue to meet regularly with partner agencies to identify and implement collaborative outreach opportunities.
Learning Center Development
As part of the Pure Water Silicon Valley Project, staff continue to work on developing the Learning Center to accompany the DPR demonstration facility. Staff continues to work on a draft Request for Proposals for an exhibit designer for the Learning Center.
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE IMPACT:
There are no environmental justice impacts associated with this item.
ATTACHMENTS:
None.
UNCLASSIFIED MANAGER:
Manager
Kirsten Struve, 408-630-3138