San Jose and Valley Water accept update on purified water plan, move ahead with demonstration facility

SAN JOSE — The City of San Jose and the Santa Clara Valley Water District on Aug. 19 accepted a joint staff update on plans to develop a direct potable reuse (DPR) program, including a pilot and a demonstration facility intended to pave the way for a full-scale purified water plant.

The two agencies' staffs outlined a multi-phase approach that begins with a pilot to gather regulatory data, continues with a demonstration facility and learning center, and — assuming required permits and funding — would culminate in a full-scale facility the agencies currently expect to begin operations in late 2035. Both the San Jose City Council and the Valley Water Board voted to accept the staff report at the joint meeting.

Valley Water and City of San Jose staff said the demonstration and pilot work is intended to reduce permitting risk for a large project that staff estimated will cost nearly $2,000,000,000. Kirsten Strouff of Valley Water said the demonstration facility will validate treatment performance to meet direct potable reuse regulatory requirements and support operator training; it will also host a learning center for public outreach. Eric Dunlavy of the City of San Jose described an exclusive negotiation agreement under development that would reserve the land envisioned for the full-scale facility for a limited time while the agencies complete planning and agreements.

Staff described where the project stands: a planning phase, a released RFP for a design consultant for the demonstration facility, amended agreements that allow the DPR demonstration to be built at the…