Woodside planning commissioners approve Menlo Country Club sewer-to-irrigation reclamation project

On April 16, 2025, the Town of Woodside Planning Commission voted to approve a Menlo Country Club proposal to install an on-site water reclamation facility that will treat sanitary sewer flows and reuse the treated water for golf-course irrigation.

Planner Sage summarized the proposal and staff's recommended findings, saying the facility would connect to the sewer line via a bored pipeline under Woodside Road, locate treatment equipment within sound-attenuated containers near the front property line (a variance is required because equipment would sit within 50 feet of the front property line), and store treated water in a precast underground tank.

Steve Gonzales, Menlo Country Club general manager, said the club has pursued multi-year conservation steps and "was using about 95,000,000 gallons of water per year" before the current measures. Gonzales said the proposed reclamation system is intended to reduce the club's reliance on potable municipal water.

Design engineer Andy Comer described the technical approach and benefits: off-site prefabricated treatment modules, membrane filtration with 0.04-micron pores, and a precast underground storage tank that will also provide pressurized emergency fire storage. Comer said the project is designed to meet California Title 22 unrestricted reuse requirements and deliver irrigation-quality water; "it's completely fail safe," he said when describing diversion and storage operations. He added that the system's process rejects large solids via a 2-millimeter screen, bags and seals those solids for disposal, and returns roughly 3% of the input to the sewer while producing about 97% as odorless, colorless water suitable for irrigation.

Commissioners asked about water quality, longevity and decommissioning. Comer said Title 22 unrestricted reuse water is high quality and that trace pharmaceuticals remain at unregulated, parts-per-trillion levels; he noted additional treatment steps would be required to meet drinking-water standards. He explained the project uses precast concrete tanks and sealed containers and that the tanks can be abandoned in place if the facility were decommissioned.

Other technical details and conditions included staff-recommended painting and landscaping to screen equipment, a noise study showing the project would not exceed allowed decibel levels at property lines, and municipal-code-compliant lighting. The project plan calls for off-site assembly of containerized units and periodic maintenance visits; Comer estimated chlorine deliveries twice per month and roughly four maintenance/operations visits per month.

During discussion, commissioners voiced support for the sustainability benefits and emphasized that screening, noise controls and lighting must meet code. A motion to approve "the resolution as drafted for the sewer reclamation order for the golf course use" was made and seconded; the roll-call vote recorded Chair Weaver, Vice Chair Gar, Commissioner Gunerco and Commissioner Taubber as voting "Yes." Commissioner Apfel was noted absent. The Chair announced the resolution passed.

Staff said there is a 10-day appeal period for the decision and provided instructions for anyone wishing to file an appeal with Town Hall.

The approval clears the planning-commission review for the Menlo Country Club reclamation project; final permits and any required building or utility approvals remain subject to normal permitting processes and the 10-day appeal window.