REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Approval to Negotiate Expansion of Recycled Water and Potable Reuse through a Proposed Purified Water Project at the Regional Wastewater Facility (RWF) [Council Pillar: Promote Sustainability and Environmental Protection]
Report
BACKGROUND
Santa Clara has a long-term commitment and history of regional collaboration regarding the use and expansion of recycled water dating back to1986, when recycled water began to be used to irrigate the City's golf course. In 2014, Levi's Stadium became the first stadium in California to use recycled water and in 2018, the City received a Resource Efficiency Award from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). Currently, approximately 20% of the City's water supply portfolio consists of recycled water.
The City has three potable water supplies; groundwater from its more than 20 active groundwater wells, treated water from the Santa Clara Valley Water District (Valley Water), and San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) water delivered via the Hetch Hetchy reservoir and distribution system. Having multiple sources of water provides operational flexibility and sustainability of the City's water supply. The City's effort to ensure long term sustainability of its water supply is ongoing on several fronts due to increased density through development and the susceptibility to drought in the region. Recycled water is utilized at irrigated sites, data centers and office buildings with over 280 customers.
Recycled water is produced by treating sewage at the San Jos?-Santa Clara Regional Wastewater Facility (RWF), jointly owned with the City of San Jos?. It is distributed to Santa Clara and other customers through South Bay Water Recycling for non-potable uses since 1996 via the recognizable purple pipes. There has been some movement recently by some water suppliers towards using advanced treatment techniques that would allow recycled water to supplement the potable supply through dir...
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