Like much of the Silicon Valley workforce, many of our Valley Water employees are teleworking during this crisis. But Guerrero and her co-workers at the Rinconada Water Treatment Plant continue to work around the clock during this public health crisis to make sure water keeps flowing across Santa Clara County. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Each unit is 100 cubic feet, or 748 gallons. We don't have enough information to make a specific recommendation about the safety of drinking tap water in Santa Clara County, California. Tarabetz operates heavy equipment, like excavators and cranes, and uses them to remove trees and large debris, and also places boulders into our creeks to help stabilize the banks. Yes. Vigil is proud to let her friends and neighbors know, I am an essential worker that analyzes the communities water sources according to federal, state and local regulations.. Yes. Foreshadowing the public debate to come, numerous people asked a variety of common questions that arise in droughts. For Valley Water employees at the Rinconada Water Treatment Plant, a typical day includes regularly monitoring the water treatment process, recording instrument readings, monitoring water quality analyzers, operating equipment such as pumps and valves and make chemical dosage changes if necessary, to optimize the treatment process and ensure that water delivered to the community meets or exceeds all regulatory requirements. Valley Water hosts a variety of water infrastructure and facility tours to educate the public on how it all works together to provide safe, clean drinking water for Santa Clara County. Lum joined the Benefits and Wellness Program team a year ago. Were seeing the perfect storm building up and its right in front of us, said Rick Callender, CEO of the district, which is also known as Valley Water. Purified water is a reliable and locally controlled water supply that meets and exceeds all California primary and secondary drinking water standards. Positive Results of Tap Water Softener and Its Advantages, The 10 Dangerous Contaminants in Your Tap Water, The 5 Amazing Properties of Alkaline Water, The Importance of Using A Water Filter for Your Home, The Risks That You Need to Know When Using Tap Water. Our state-of-the-art laboratory tests water produced from each of our water treatment plants, our reservoirs and our groundwater basin. I thoroughly enjoyed the tour! The restrictions are in response to the discovery of small amounts of MTBE in the three reservoirs. Together, they help to keep Valley Water running as an essential organization providing safe, clean water supply, stream stewardship, and critical flood protection. Following a public hearing Tuesday night, the San Jose City Council voted unanimously to request that Valley Water consider reducing or eliminating any rate hikes next year and ask city staff to look for ways to lessen future cost burdens, including implementing a relief program for low-income residents. It is designed to: Alert private well owners to the potential for contamination and the need for water-quality testing; Introduce well owners to the basics of proper well construction, destruction and maintenance;Inform well owners of their responsibilities in Santa Clara County. Water restrictions for 2 million residents of Santa Clara County The treated effluent already having gone through a two-step advanced process and safe enough for release to the San Francisco Bay is further purified using three advanced purification processes: microfiltration, reverse osmosis and ultraviolet light. Why Purify the Water, and What is The Best Method for Healthier Water. as Maximum Contaminant Levels). That is all a part of the essential work that Alex Torres and the team of skilled plant operators do on the daily that supports the water treatment plant process, and ultimately ensures the supply of clean, safe water to Santa Clara County during this public health crisis. The Santa Clara Valley Water District imports 55% of its water from the Sierra snowpack. Drinking optimally fluoridated water on a regular basis makes the use of fluoride supplements unnecessary. Recycled water is a locally controlled source, unlike imported water. Purified water also reduces dependency on water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta and helps protect the regions groundwater supplies and environment. Required fields are marked *. Ventura program to boost water supply, protect city from drought The law of supply and demand affects imported water prices. He researched various treatment plants in the area before deciding on the Santa Teresa Water Treatment Plant at Valley Water. The Santa Clara Valley needs additional supplies to fill projected future water supply shortfalls. Scott Condon begins each morning with an hour of quiet time, walks his dog Jada, and then heads off to work. We have been driving separate vehicles to work sites and practicing social distancing when out in the field, said Van Amburg. Villalobos-Galindo manages all aspects of the planning phase of the project, which is near completion. Jerry Browns executive order requiring water companies and cities to cut water use by varying percentages. In 2015, San Jose Water Company, a private company that serves 1 million people in San Jose, Los Gatos, Saratoga, and other communities, put in place drought allocations that allowed each home the same amount 13 units of water a month during July, August and September. They thought because they had larger yards they should be allowed to use more water. EPA says that these projects will benefit over 50 million people, resulting in 1.2 million people receiving safer drinking water and 1,100 million gallons per day of wastewater receiving more treatment before it is discharged to waterways. On top of the cost increase proposed by Valley Water, San Jose Water plans to hike up water rates for customers by nearly 30% over the next four years. Is Santa Clara's, CA, tap water fine to drink or do I need to buy PDF A Guide for the Private Well Owner - Santa Clara County, California EWG's drinking water quality report shows results of tests conducted by the water utility and provided to the Environmental Working Group by the California State Water Resources Control Board, as well as information from the U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History database (ECHO). MTBE at relatively low concentrations can also make drinking water taste bad. As the primary wholesale water supplier in Santa Clara County, the Santa Clara Valley Water District is dedicated to assuring a reliable supply of healthy, clean drinking water. They are also committed to helping our community understand the value of water and the vital work we do as a water resource management agency to provide residents and businesses with safe, clean drinking water. San Jose Valley Water to increase bill prices this summer We survey for wildlife prior to such activities to ensure birds, wildlife, fish, or endangered species are unharmed during permitted vegetation management, maintenance work, or flood control work along the creeks of Santa Clara County, Van Amburg adds. Water System Details - California A previous version of this story said the Sierra Club is a plaintiff in the lawsuit. Valley Water staff shared details about the treatment plants water sources, treatment processes and distribution system. Our virtual events have garnered much more interest than expected and have allowed us to reach new audiences and even people from all around the state. Your email address will not be published. I continue to be concerned and I want us to make sure our rates reflect what is happening to our residents, Councilmember Sylvia Arenas said during the meeting. Our groundwater basins are a precious resource and the district is committed to aggressively protecting them from contamination and the threat of contamination. Water Leaks. Like many agencies, the last few months have challenged employees to work in a different format. Valley Waters work to provide safe, clean water obviously didnt stop, so neither does our work in engaging and educating the public, said Adriano. Prior to moving in the Bay Area, she reported in Wisconsin and South Carolina. This is being done at the Silicon Valley Advanced Water Purification Center (SVAWPC). More than half (62%) of the U.S. population lives in communities served by fluoridated water supplies. The Anderson Dam Seismic Retrofit Project will modernize Santa Clara Valley Water Districts largest reservoir to restore lost capacity, address seismic deficiencies, and protect public safety. Enzweiler and his co-workers continue to report to work every day at our Santa Teresa Water Treatment Plant to make certain Santa Clara County has a reliable supply of safe, clean drinking water during this public health crisis. In the future, advanced purified water will be a drought-proof water supply that can help ensure the valley has a sustainable source of water. Learn about free tools and programs available to help you find leaks and save water. Highly purified recycled water is one new, locally developed and reliable water supply. Miss Manners: I just learned this rule about the anthem. Have I been wrong for 40 years? For health-related information, you can call the Santa Clara County Public Health Department at 408-885-3980. Cities and private water companies across Santa Clara County, called retailers because they send water bills to customers, are expected to pass new drought restrictions in the coming weeks and months in response to the districts vote Wednesday. The staff was so friendly and knowledgeable. Keeping the trucks running smoothly and maximizing the available space for the rock storage requires a lot of planning and strategy. They both enjoy working with the community while helping support flood protection in Santa Clara County. We are not looking to hinder public health and safety, or responsible amounts of water for commercial applications.. We may have excess water use in the community that we didnt count on.. What is Alkaline Water and what is Kangen Water? We can have customers with one set of rules on one side of the street and another set of rules on the other side of the street, said Roger Lee, director of public works for the city of Cupertino. Mandatory water restrictions approved for 2, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Drought: Mandatory water restrictions approved for 2 million residents of Santa Clara County, | Natural resources and environment reporter. Approximately 97% of California is experiencing severe drought, according to the latest report from the U.S. Drought Monitor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. On a 7-0 vote, the Santa Clara Valley Water District board declared a water shortage emergency and set a target of reducing water use 33% countywide from 2013 levels, a year the state uses as baseline. She previously covered San Jose City Hall and was awarded first place in local government reporting from the California News Publishers Association in 2021. Fluoridation Benefits People of All Ages The City of Santa Clara commits to providing you, the water consumer, a safe and reliable supply of high quality drinking water. Theres also concern that construction vehicles and helicopters that will be used by contractors during the test phase could disturb vegetation, plants and wildlife, according to the lawsuit. To achieve this, the water district plans to produce up to 24,000 acre feet (AFY) per year of highly purified water for potable reuse by the year 2025. EPA provided the 99th and 100th WIFIA loans, totaling $115 million, to support flood resilience and a seismic retrofit in Santa Clara County. The primary goal of the project is to reduce the risk of flooding from a flood event equivalent to the one experienced in February 2017, while preserving and improving the creeks natural functions and habitat. We just had to adapt and shift gears.. Additionally, communicating their work with the federal and state regulatory agencies that issue our permits and monitoring our revegetation sites to verify that they are meeting the goals of establishing native plant communities. Torres is proud to share with his friends and neighbors, We work to take water that is not drinkable and make it safe for businesses and residents to use.. But the Santa Clara Valley Water District Board decided to try to strike a compromise between water quality concerns and recreational needs in the county, said Mike Di Marco, public information representative for the district. Last June, the districts board of directors declared a water shortage emergency due to a county reservoir being drained to reduce earthquake risks. She spends much of her time actively collaborating with the City of San Jos, different units within Valley Water, environmental planners, and interacting with the community. They enjoy their public service roles at Valley Water and are dedicated to keeping residents and businesses safe. Desalination requires the pressure to be increased to 900-5,000 pounds per square inch, which significantly increases the energy usage and costs. During this shelter-in-place order, warehouse services have been vital in the distribution of personal protective equipment and sanitizing supplies to our on-site workers and have managed the assembly and pick-up of supply kits for our teleworking employees. Rachel Guerrero is never sure what challenges her workday may bring. 2023 Santa Clara Valley Water District. The Orange County project produces 100 MGD of purified water used to replenish groundwater basins there. At Anderson, participants learned important details about Anderson Reservoir, the dam and the Anderson Dam Seismic Retrofit Project, including how completion of the project will improve reliability, safety and return the reservoir to its original storage capacity. I wanted to show my appreciation for always providing for me and my three older brothers while we were growing up., My most interesting experience is participating in the employee recognition awards committee for two years and playing on the former Valley Water softball league. Where Your Water Comes From | Santa Clara Valley Water As California endures water restrictions due to widespread drought, a proposed $2.5-billion reservoir expansion project in Santa Clara County promises to increase the amount of freshwater for more than a million people. All water on the planet is reused. Water purification is also used in Virginia, Texas, Colorado, Singapore, Australia and more. Environmentalists say it would do little to solve Californias water woes. The Safe, Clean, and Natural Flood Protection Program $41 million investment will help upgrade and add channel restoration projects in Sunnyvale, San Jose, and surrounding areas in California to manage stormwater that impacts residents, schools, and businesses. Valley Water is now offering Virtual Water Infrastructure Tours. To sign up for the virtual tour, visit the Water Infrastructure Tour registration portal. It takes a team of scientists, people like microbiologist Katie Vigil, who play a vital part in ensuring that our water is safe for consumption and continues to meet the federal, state, and local regulations during this public health crisis. Available imported water for the District can drop to as low as 5% (or less) for normal supplies from the State Water Project. Stay up-to-date with Santa Clara Valley Water District, Report water waste, homeless encampments, or other problems to Valley Water >>, 2023 Santa Clara Valley Water District. During the SMP season, Castro leads one of his crews into creeks and streams to remove sediment, vegetation, trash, and debris items that can block the natural water flow. Dear Abby: His first wife was a 'fox,' and I am apparently not, Ask Amy: The stay-at-home mom is clueless about my responsibilities. Reading your water meter can help you detect leaks. Theyre asking a court to temporarily block the district from moving forward with the project and order that it comply with the California Environmental Quality Act by conducting further environmental studies. Dozens of residents participated in our inaugural Water Infrastructure Bus Tour in February to experience our facilities up close and understand the work we do to provide safe, clean drinking water to Santa Clara County. Matter Keller, spokesperson for the water district, said that when the project is complete, the expanded reservoir would help the federally threatened South-Central California Coast Steelhead trout.

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