PureWater Peninsula
We are studying the feasibility and impacts of transporting purified water sourced from Silicon Valley Clean Water and the City of San Mateo into our Crystal Springs Reservoir in San Mateo County. This purified water would be blended with water in Crystal Springs Reservoir before being treated at the nearby Harry Tracy Water Treatment Plant for transmission to customers. We could provide 6 to 12 million gallons of water per day from this project.
We are working closely with Silicon Valley Clean Water, the City of San Mateo, Cal Water, Redwood City, Mid-Peninsula Water District and BAWSCA on this project.
Benefits of PureWater Peninsula:
- Water when we need it. Having water available in times of drought and emergencies.
- A locally controlled, sustainable water supply.
- By working together across multiple agencies, we can support the entire region.
What is purified water?
The earth has the same amount of water now that it did when it was formed. All water on earth has been used over and over again. Purifying and recycling water simply speeds up that natural process. Recycled water generally refers to municipal wastewater that has been cleaned and meets requirements for industrial and irrigation use. Purified water is drinking water that comes from highly treated recycled water that has gone through additional advanced treatment and disinfection to meet and even surpass drinking water quality standards.
To learn more, visit our purified water page.
If you have any questions about the project, please email purewater@sfwater.org.
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PureWater Peninsula Project Partners
San Francisco Public Utilities Commission
Bay Area Water Supply & Conservation Agency
California Water Service
City of Foster City
City of San Mateo
Mid-Peninsula Water District
Redwood City
Silicon Valley Clean Water
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Why purified water on the Peninsula?
Drinking water in the Mid-Peninsula region comes primarily from SFPUC’s Hetch Hetchy Regional Water System. The SFPUC currently serves drinking water from a variety of sources, including rain and snow collecting in reservoirs in the Sierra Nevada mountains, East Bay, and Peninsula as well as groundwater.
These existing supplies are susceptible to the impacts of climate change, drought, and environmental regulations. While customers across the region are among the lowest water users in the state because of robust water conservation programs, more needs to be done to address future water supply shortages. We must look for new sources of water to make sure we have water when we need it. Purified water can increase water supply reliability because it is a local, drought-resistant source; this water is produced on the Peninsula and would be available even in a drought.
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Why do we need purified water?
Our region’s water supply is vulnerable to climate change, drought, and increasingly strict environmental regulations. It has become even more important to provide a local, reliable, sustainable, and drought-resistant water source for the health and economic vitality of our region.
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Is purified water safe?
Purified water is safe, clean drinking water. The State of California regulates all drinking water within the state, including purified water. These regulations make sure that drinking water is safe and meets state and federal water quality standards. California’s regulations for purified water are the strictest in the world. The regulations dictate how purified water is treated, distributed, and operated. This standard was developed with the support of expert panels, years of research studies, and input from utilities. Purified water has been used in other parts of the United States and around the world for decades. In that time, there have been no adverse health effects from its use. Testing has shown that purified water has a higher level of water quality than treated groundwater or surface water. In fact, the purified water advanced treatment process produces water that is cleaner than most bottled water.
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Will my water taste different?
No, it is anticipated that there would be no taste difference at all. That is because the finishing treatment for purified water matches the taste profile of the existing supply, and it would also be blended with existing sources before reaching homes and businesses.
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Where can I learn more?
Learn more about the advanced water purification process, associated research, and water reuse projects by visiting waterreuse.org/educate.
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What can you do?
- Share what you have learned with your communities and lend your voice in support of purified water.
- Sign up for our mailing list and learn more at PureWaterPeninsula.com.
- Trust your tap Water.
- Learn about your drinking water and its sources.
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Further Project Information
- Phase 1 Initial Study (Kennedy Jenks, 2017)
- Phase 2 Concept Study (Kennedy Jenks, 2019)
- Phase 3 Title XVI Feasibility Study (Kennedy Jenks, 2022)
- Basis of Design Report (Kennedy Jenks, 2024)