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 Update on Valley Water and City of San Jose Public Outreach Highlights for the Purified Recycled Water Program and South Bay Water Recycling; and 2026 Public Perception Poll and Provide Feedback.
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RECOMMENDATION: Recommendation
Receive information and provide feedback on:
Valley Water and City of San Jose public outreach highlights for the Purified Recycled Water Program and South Bay Water Recycling; and
The results from the 2026 public perception poll.
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SUMMARY:
A. Public outreach highlights for the Purified Water Program and South Bay Water Recycling (SBWR)
As Valley Water works to implement potable reuse, public outreach and education will be essential to building awareness, trust, and support for purified recycled water. Valley Water has invested in these efforts for years through programs at the Silicon Valley Advanced Water Purification Center (SVAWPC).
After the State of California adopted direct potable reuse (DPR) regulations in 2023, Valley Water began advancing a DPR project. Experience from water reuse projects in California and across the country shows that proactive public outreach and ongoing public engagement are critical to project success.
Valley Water is transitioning from outreach focused on the SVAWPC to planning outreach and education for the Pure Water Silicon Valley Project. This is a partnership between Valley Water and the Cities of San José and Santa Clara and aims to provide purified recycled water for drinking in Santa Clara County by 2035. The SVAWPC currently further purifies treated wastewater from the Cities’ Regional Wastewater Facility for South Bay Water Recycling’s non-potable purple pipe system.
As staff work more closely with City partners, efforts will align around three key areas:
Interactive Engagemen...
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