COMMITTEE AGENDA MEMORANDUM
Joint RWPAC with Cities of San Jose/Santa Clara
Government Code § 84308 Applies: Yes ☐ No ☒
(If “YES” Complete Attachment A - Gov. Code § 84308)
SUBJECT: title
Receive Pure Water Silicon Valley Direct Potable Reuse Project Update and Provide Feedback.
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RECOMMENDATION: Recommendation
Receive information and provide feedback on progress towards the development of the Pure Water Silicon Valley Direct Potable Reuse (DPR) project to ensure our community is more drought resilient.
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SUMMARY:
Background
In January 2023, Santa Clara Valley Water District (Valley Water) and the Cities of San Jose and Santa Clara (Cities) executed a Letter of Intent for Collaborating on the Expansion of Recycled and Purified Water in Santa Clara County (LOI). The LOI recognizes that climate change makes our community more vulnerable to extreme weather conditions, including periods of long-term drought and more intense wet-weather events. To prepare for these extreme and uncertain events, the availability of a drought- proof water supply and efficient water management justifies the significant and rapid expansion of recycling treated wastewater from the San Jose-Santa Clara Regional Wastewater Facility (RWF). The San Jose City Council and Valley Water Board met on August 19, 2025, to reaffirm support for the Pure Water Silicon Valley (PWSV) direct potable reuse project collaboration. Specifically, the Board and Council affirmed the following:
• Support the development of a project charter and exclusive negotiation agreement as necessary initial steps to guide studies and negotiate the institutional agreements required for a full-scale advanced water purification facility.
• Support for coordinated public education and outreach programs to ensure the success of a DPR project.
• Support project updates twice a year or as needed to Joint Recycled Water Policy Advisory Committee (JRWPAC).
This memo summarizes progress made since the May 2025 JRWPAC meeting.
Agreements
The following agreements have been executed or are being finalized:
• Staff funding agreements with the Cities of San Jose and Santa Clara to support development of the Pure Water Silicon Valley project
• Option Agreement to support development of the demonstration facility and learning center, including an amended lease, integration agreement and operations and maintenance agreement. Once environmental review is complete, the option can be exercised.
• Exclusive Negotiations Agreement to reserve land for the future full-scale DPR facility while full-scale agreements, including a land lease, are developed.
City of San Jose and Valley Water staff are jointly developing a charter to serve as the framework for the agreements and studies required for a full-scale DPR facility. The framework establishes a shared vision and outlines key topics that will need to be addressed in the new agreements, including wastewater quality and quantity, facility pretreatment, reverse osmosis concentrate management, and source control.
The City of San Jose recently hired a new Senior Environmental Program Manager to work with Valley Water on this project, who began in January. Staff from both agencies meet approximately every two weeks to develop the framework, address technical issues, and begin developing terms for the agreements needed for the full-scale facility.
Procurement
Valley Water staff are procuring a design consultant for the Demonstration Facility, have amended an agreement with their CEQA consultant, and have conducted site visits to support development of the Learning Center. The Demonstration Facility is essential to enabling permitting of the full-scale DPR facility.
Capital Improvement Program
The Demonstration Facility and Learning Center are included in Valley Water’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP) with a total project cost of $100 million. This includes design, construction, and engineering services for the Demonstration (pilot) Facility ($29.2 million), the Learning Center ($21.3 million)-into which the pilot will eventually be relocated-and related project components such as stakeholder engagement, CEQA review, initial full-scale planning, and regulatory permitting. Completion is anticipated by 2030. The full-scale facility will be added to Valley Water’s CIP in 2026. The estimated total project cost is $2.45 billion, with completion anticipated by 2035.
Regulatory Coordination and Technical Studies
The final DPR regulations took effect on October 1, 2024. Valley Water’s Project Management Consultant, with support from subconsultant Trussell Technologies, Inc.-a firm that helped develop these regulations and is recognized for expertise in potable reuse permitting-has prepared a roadmap to guide PWSV project permitting. Valley Water is also meeting monthly with the California State Water Resources Control Board Division of Drinking Water (DDW) to support regulatory coordination, including development of a Concept Proposal and Pilot Testing and Monitoring Plan.
The DPR regulations require establishment of an Independent Advisory Panel (IAP). Valley Water’s IAP is managed by the National Water Research Institute (NWRI) and has convened twice to date, in September 2025 and January 2026, to review technical and regulatory aspects of the project, including the Concept Proposal, Testing and Monitoring Plan, water quality considerations, and pathogen control strategies, etc. Based on the feedback received to date, the IAP has expressed support for the project and indicated that the Concept Proposal is consistent with California DPR regulations and is protective of public health. Staff will continue to engage with the IAP and plan to hold additional meetings throughout 2026 and beyond to review other elements of the PWSV project as it advances.
In December 2025, staff from the City of San Jose and Valley Water met with the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) to discuss reverse osmosis concentrate (ROC) management, including completed and planned technical studies led by Valley Water. RWQCB staff emphasized the importance of these studies, particularly those evaluating nature-based solutions (NBS) for potential ROC treatment pathways and analyses supporting long-term permitting and ROC management strategies.
Overall, the regulatory process is designed to ensure multiple safeguards are in place so that water produced by a DPR facility meets stringent potable reuse safety requirements and public health is fully protected.
Grants and Feasibility Study
Valley Water and City staff are coordinating on a feasibility study funded by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. Once complete, the study will position the project to pursue construction grant funding. Separately, a Community Project Funding award of $1,092,000 from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for the Demonstration Facility was included in the FY26 Interior-Environment Appropriations bill passed by Congress in January 2026.
Outreach Activities, Purified Water Bottling, and Learning Center Development
Valley Water staff continue to offer in-person and virtual tours of the Silicon Valley Advanced Water Purification Center (SVAWPC). Since May 2025, more than 1300 people have participated in tours. In January 2026, staff received approval from DDW and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) for the second batch of 16,000 purified water bottles for outreach, making Valley Water the first agency in California approved under the new DPR regulations.
Staff continue to coordinate outreach with project partners, the City of San Jose and City of Santa Clara, and regionally facilitated Bay Area Potable Reuse Outreach Collaboration Meetings to share knowledge with other local water agencies.
In March 2026, Valley Water received a WateReuse Award for Excellence in the Outreach and Education category for its innovative efforts supporting purified water awareness in Santa Clara County. The award was given to Valley Water for its outreach strategy, which made the science and benefits of purified water accessible to diverse audiences of employees, students and older adults.
Furthermore, in collaboration with Valley Water staff, Dr. Stephen Jackson, the Santa Clara County Medical Association’s (SCCMA) Environmental Health Committee Co-Chair, wrote a featured article titled, “Physicians Join Together to Advocate for Potable Reuse,” for SCCMA’s magazine, The Bulletin. The article, published in October 2025, included information about the PWSV Project and steps physicians can take to support DPR locally, and was sent to 675 physicians in Santa Clara County.
As part of the PWSV Project, staff continue to advance development of the Learning Center that will accompany the DPR Demonstration Facility. The Learning Center is envisioned to include interactive exhibits, a purified water tasting station, community gathering spaces, and enhancements to the facility tour experience. Progress to date includes benchmarking other water reuse and science learning centers and forming a Technical Advisory Group (TAG) comprised of subject matter experts in exhibits, museums, and water reuse, as well as representatives from the City of San Jose and the City of Santa Clara. The TAG has provided input on the development of a Request for Proposals (RFP) for an exhibit designer to ensure the RFP aligns with industry standards and incorporates feasible, cost-effective exhibit design approaches.
Next Steps
The focus for this year includes completing procurement and design for the Demonstration Facility and Learning Center, initiating procurement for Learning Center exhibits, finalizing the charter and agreement terms for the full-scale DPR Facility, continuing technical studies, maintaining engagement with the RWQCB and DDW, and advancing public outreach and engagement efforts related to purified water. Outreach activities will be refined as needed based on research findings and data, including results from public perception polling and focus group feedback.
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 and is not associated with an equity opportunity.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1: PowerPoint
UNCLASSIFIED MANAGER:
Manager
Kirsten Struve, 408-630-3138