Santa Clara Valley Water District officially opens new recycling water plant in US

The Santa Clara Valley Water District in the US has opened a new water recycling plant in northern San José, California.

The $72m Silicon Valley Advanced Water Purification Center has been built in partnership with the cities of San José and Santa Clara.

The recycling plant, which is already producing around eight million gallons of purified water per day, is owned and operated by Santa Clara Valley Water District.

Construction of the project began in November 2010, according to Santa Clara Valley.

The new facility has secured $8.25m from the Federal American Recovery and Re-Investment Act and $5.25m from the California Department of Water Resources.

The city of San José contributed $11m for the construction of the project and provided a long-term lease for the land, while the water district funded the remainder of the project costs.

Water passes through three additional high-tech processes of microfiltration, reverse osmosis and ultraviolet light at the new purification center, which is said to improve drinking water quality.

The water will be supplied through the regional purple pipe recycled water system, delivered by South Bay Water Recycling (SBWR), a programme within the RWF.

It will be used for industrial cooling towers, golf courses and car washes, throughout San José, Milpitas and Santa Clara.

Santa Clara Valley Water District directors board chair Tony Estremera said: "Growing water demand, uncertain imported water supplies, the present and recurring drought, regulatory restrictions and climate change require agencies like ours to both promote the wise use of water and find additional supplies to fill projected future water supply demands."

Santa Clara Valley Water District mayor Jamie Matthews said: "Last year, Santa Clara’s customers used 1.2 billion gallons of recycled water, which is more than 15% of the water sold in the city."