The Reliability Improvement Project is aimed at retrofitting, upgrading and/or replacing key equipment that is reaching the end of its natural life, addressing the areas of raw water ozone, flocculation and sedimentation. Filtration and redundant disinfection.
The work will also increase the plant’s treatment capacity from 80 million gallons of water a day to 100 million gallons a day and help the district meet increasingly stringent standards for water quality, seismic stability and safety.
First Quarterly Public Meeting of 2025 and Tour
On March 26, 2025, Valley Water hosted the quarterly community meeting about the Rinconada Water Treatment Plant Reliability Improvement Project Phases 3-6, to provide the latest status update on the project and share responses to neighborhood concerns received to date.
Before the hybrid public event began, interested participants who signed up earlier were given a brief tour of the construction project, which was held from the upper deck of the Rinconada Water Treatment Plant.
Vice Chair Richard Santos and Director Nai Hsueh attended the meeting, along with 15 community members and two people who joined online via Zoom. The presentation was followed by a question-and-answer session.
To view the October meeting on Valley Water's YouTube channel, click here.
To view the PowerPoint presentation, click here.
To view the meeting agenda, click here.
Work Saturday at Rinconada (2025)
As needed, Valley Water's contractor will occasionally work at the Rinconada Water Treatment Plant on Saturdays. The work is scheduled between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. and may involve pickup truck activities and smaller construction equipment, which may cause increased noise. Crews will make every effort to minimize noise.
October 10, 2024, Quarterly Public Meeting and Tour Information
Valley Water held a quarterly project update and tour on October 10, 2024. A presentation on the construction progress was given along with Valley Water's response to neighborhood concerns.
To view the October meeting on Valley Water's YouTube channel, click here.
To view the PowerPoint presentation, click here.
To view the display boards, click here.
Take in the View
View Valley Water's latest drone video of the construction progress at the Rinconada Water Treatment Plant Reliability Improvement Project.
Pipe Welding Activities
Valley Water is preparing to install the piping for the new filters at the Rinconada Water Treatment Plant beginning this week and continuing through the rest of the summer. The work is scheduled to occur between 5:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday through Fridays. Crews will conduct welding activities on the large pipes that will be used to support the new filters and plan to get an early morning start, as temperatures tend to be cooler at that time. As the sun rises, temperatures inside the pipes can reach 130 degrees or higher on a hot day. Construction noise will be limited to pick-up trucks, welders and fans. Crews will make every effort to minimize noise.
June 26, 2024, Quarterly Public Meeting Information
Valley Water held its quarterly project update on June 26, 2024, at the treatment plant. The event featured an informative tour from the upper deck of the plant that highlighted the water treatment process. The meeting included a PowerPoint presentation on the construction progress of the Reliability Improvement Project and Valley Water's response to neighborhood concerns. The next quarterly public meeting at the Rinconada Water Treatment Plant is scheduled for September 2024.
To view the June meeting on Valley Water's YouTube channel, click here.
To view the PowerPoint presentation, click here.
To view the display boards, click here.
Take Flight with Us!
Come marvel at the amazing drone videos of the construction site of the Rinconada Water Treatment Plant Reliability Improvement Project. We will post new videos to the Valley Water site to showcase a unique aerial view of the project.
June 13, 2024 Water Treatment Plant Master Plan Public Meeting
During this public meeting at the Vietnamese American Service Center, Valley Water presented a comprehensive and long-term plan to update and upgrade its water treatment plants. Several potential projects have been identified for each plant in the plan, including the Rinconada Water Treatment Plant. The presentation addresses the need for and importance of having a Master Plan and an open forum for questions.
To view the meeting on Valley Water's YouTube channel, click here.
To view the presentation, click here.
Dust monitoring, sound, and vibration reports
Valley Water's dust, noise, and vibration monitoring reports are under the "Reports and Documents" tab for review. In addition, all construction activities must comply with the Town of Los Gatos' noise ordinance. Our noise level monitoring is ongoing; data for that and vibrations are available under the "Reports and Documents" tab. These reports will be consistently updated. Please note that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires backup alarms on construction vehicles and cannot be turned off.
February 29, 2024, Public Meeting Information
Thirty-five neighbors of the Rinconada Water Treatment Plant attended Valley Water’s Feb. 29 public meeting to hear about upcoming construction plans and learn about plant operations during a brief facility tour.
To view the meeting on Valley Water's YouTube channel, click here.
To view the presentation, click here.
Public meeting videos available on YouTube
Valley Water keeps a video library of its past community meetings on its YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1jDvRO4q2A.
The Reliability Improvement Project will replace or upgrade all major plant components and increase Rinconada’s treatment capacity to 100 million gallons of water a day. These enhancements will also result in improved taste for your drinking water. The Project includes the design and construction of new facilities, including raw water ozonation, flocculation and plate settler clarification and dual media filtration. This work will also help the district meet increasingly stringent standards for water quality, seismic stability and safety.
This completed project will use the following steps in drinking water treatment:
- Raw Water Ozone
- Flocculation and Sedimentation
- Filtration
- Redundant disinfection
The Rinconada Water Treatment Plant is Valley Water’s oldest treatment plant, having provided continuous and reliable service since 1967. While Rinconada primarily serves the west side of Santa Clara County, residents across the county contribute to the project funding through water rates.