COMMITTEE AGENDA MEMORANDUM
Recycled Water Committee
Government Code § 84308 Applies: Yes ☐ No ☒
(If “YES” Complete Attachment A - Gov. Code § 84308)
SUBJECT: title
Receive an Update and Provide Feedback on South County Water Reuse Collaboration Supporting Valley Water’s Water Reuse Programs.
End
RECOMMENDATION: Recommendation
Receive an update and provide feedback on South Santa Clara County water reuse collaboration supporting Valley Water’s water reuse programs.
Body
SUMMARY:
Since 1999, the Santa Clara Valley Water District (Valley Water), the South County Regional Wastewater Authority (SCRWA), the Cities of Gilroy and Morgan Hill have worked collaboratively to advance water reuse in South Santa Clara County (South County). In 2017, the Board of Directors established the Joint Water Resources Committee (JWRC) with the Cities of Gilroy and Morgan Hill to advance purified and recycled water reuse in South County and identify future funding opportunities for water reuse implementation. The Recycled Water Committee last received a South County water reuse collaboration update in July 2026. The JWRC received its last update in April 2026 and will receive its next update in October 2026.
Feasibility Study Update
Valley Water staff have continued to work on the South County Recycled Water System Feasibility Study (FS) which is partially funded by a 2023 United States Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) planning grant. The completed FS will satisfy a prerequisite for future federal funding support for the design and construction of South County water reuse projects under the USBR Title XVI Water Reclamation and Reuse Program. During the last quarter, staff has continued to assemble data, engineering and planning information; evaluated prospective water reuse options and opportunities; and reached consensus with the Cities on preferred future water reuse options. Specific activities have included:
• Development and refinement of the Project Alternatives TM.
• Fine-tuning project and project alternative components, costs, and benefits.
• Examination of 2050 Water Supply Master Plan and 2025 Urban Water Management Plans to update water demand and supply projections.
• Development of several sections that focus on identifying the study area, summarizing the problem and needs, and outlining water reuse opportunities.
• Developed outlines of other FS sections for internal review and alignment.
Staff are now transitioning toward the development of FS elements regarding South County water reuse options and opportunities, project alternatives, environmental concerns, interagency issues, and economic considerations. Staff will present FS highlights, discuss the study development progress, and review the project timeline to complete the FS.
South County Recycled Water Collaborations
Since 2015, Valley Water has implemented a series of interagency agreements with the City of Gilroy to complete portions of the Southern Recycled Water Pipeline Alignment (Southern Alignment) as residential neighborhoods have been constructed in the Glen Loma Development. Staff will provide an update on collaborations with the City of Gilroy to construct the last remaining pipeline segment to complete this major pipeline segment.
In 2024, Valley Water constructed the South County Recycled Water Pipeline Project that completed a major portion of the Southern Alignment, except for Phase 1C that would bridge the southern system to the existing Northern Alignment. In 2025, Valley Water initiated construction to complete this critical pipeline segment that will increase distribution system capabilities and support expanded recycled water use. Staff will provide a project update on the completion of Phase 1C pipeline construction.
In 2015, Phase 1B - Segment 3 was constructed to support recycled water expansion to Cintas Corporation (Cintas). The new pipeline extended water reuse northwesterly from the existing Northern Alignment along Camino Arroyo and subsequently northeasterly along Holloway Road to the customer. Staff will present an update on discussions to provide Cintas recycled water at their site.
Since 2020, Valley Water staff have provided technical support to the City of Gilroy, the recycled water retailer, to evaluate expansion of the Northern Alignment recycled water conveyance system and recycled water storage at the South County Regional Wastewater Authority treatment plant. These improvements would support recycled-water service to the city's potential existing and new recycled water customers. Staff will provide an update on coordination with the City of Gilroy and next steps.
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE IMPACT:
There are no environmental justice impacts associated with this item. This action is unlikely to or will not result in adverse impacts.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1: PowerPoint
UNCLASSIFIED MANAGER:
Manager
Kirsten Struve, 408-630-3138