Frequently Asked Questions

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about the Santa Clara Valley Water District:

What is the Santa Clara Valley Water District?
The Santa Clara Valley Water District is a special district, governed by a seven-member board of directors, and is responsible for water supply, flood protection and watershed management in Santa Clara County, California. The district encompasses all of the county’s 1,300 square miles and serves the area’s 15 cities, 1.7 million residents and more than 200,000 commuters. Our responsibilities flow from our mission: to provide high quality water, and to manage flood and storm waters along the county’s 700 miles of creeks and rivers in an environmentally sensitive manner.

Where does my water come from?
The district supplies water to local water retail agencies, such as San Jose Water Co., which in turn provides it to their customers. In order to maintain maximum efficiency and flexibility, our
water supply comes from a variety of sources. Nearly half the water comes from local sources, such as underground aquifers, and more than half is imported from the Sierra Nevada through
pumping stations in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. Both imported water and groundwater is sold to the 13 water retail agencies that supply most of the communities in Santa
Clara County.

Is tap water safe to drink?
The district operates three drinking water treatment plants for our imported water, which, along with the rigorous testing of the underground water sources, ensures the water we provide is of
the highest possible quality, exceeding all federal and state drinking water standards.

Why can't we swim in the reservoirs? What are they for?
The district operates 10 reservoirs. The water they store can be treated at our treatment plants, used to replenish the underground aquifers, or provide protection from flooding by storing excess runoff. Recreational activities at the reservoirs, such as swimming, boating or the use of personal watercraft, is controlled by the Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation Department or the city of San Jose, except for Almaden, Coyote, Anderson and Calero reservoirs. Swimming at those reservoirs is prohibited by the state Department of Health to protect the drinking water supply from potential bacteriological contamination.

My house isn't near a creek, why should I have to pay for flood protection?
Rain that falls on open ground is either absorbed or flows into creeks and rivers. Rain that falls on houses, sidewalks, buildings, parking lots and streets runs off into storm drains, and then
flows into the creeks and rivers. In this way, every urban and suburban structure, whether near a creek or miles away, contributes to the amount of water flowing in our local waterways. And during heavy rains, flood management projects protect our streets and highways, schools, shopping centers, parks and the places we work from the danger of flooding and the damage and inconvenience that flooding could bring to every county resident.

Where can I get sandbags?
During a flood emergency, free sand and sandbags are available for you to pick up at more than 25 sites throughout the county. Call the sandbag hotline at 1(888) HEY-NOAH [439-6624] for
locations, or check our emergency information section.

How can I Adopt-A-Creek?
Call the Adopt-A-Creek program at 265-2607, ext. 2237 for information, or check the Adopt-A-Creek page.

Where are you located?
Santa Clara Valley Water District
5750 Almaden Expressway
San Jose, CA 95118

(408) 265-2600