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.
Current status
The project is in the middle of Phase 2, which involves the construction of several facilities, including the raw water ozone contactor, flash mix facility, flocculation and sedimentation basins, wash water recovery facility and temporary water piping.
Saturday work at the treatment plant will continue as the water district steps up efforts to complete the project in a timely and safe fashion. Since July 2018, the district has allowed contractors to work Saturdays between 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Some restrictions are in place out of consideration for our neighbors, including:
- No construction truck or tractor work outside of buildings, including dump trucks, backhoes, jackhammers or other motorized equipment.
- No outside construction lighting or outside generator operations.
- No use of the Granada gate.
Work completed
The water district completed street paving on Granada Way in November and is now improving the landscaping along the street. Landscape work will focus on removing weeds and prepping the soil for the planting of 15 oleander bushes that will screen the facility from the neighborhood.
For any questions, please contact the water treatment plant's neighborhood liaison, Tony Mercado, at 408-630-2342 or via email at [email protected]
Known as the Reliability Improvement Project, this endeavor 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 the Santa Clara Valley Water District’s oldest treatment plant, having provided continuous and reliable service since 1967. The facility is a source of pride in the organization and this retrofit is the largest capital improvement project ever constructed by the District. Including the planning, design and construction, the project will cost approximately $300 million.
This work is about one thing: Ensuring the plant continues to consistently and uninterruptedly fulfill its role as the major provider of drinking water to more than one million people on Santa Clara County’s west side.