Back to top

Rinconada Water Treatment Plant Reliability Improvement

About This Project

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.

Future site rendering
Datapoints
Location
Los Gatos
Status
Phase 3-6
Schedule
All phases targeted for completion by Late 2029
Current Stage
Clarifier demolition complete. Foundation prep and pour.
News and UpdatesNews and Updates
Reports and DocumentsReports and Documents
Environmental and Community BenefitsEnvironmental and Community Benefits
History and BackgroundHistory and Background
News & Updates

Valley Water dirt removal schedule 

Valley Water will remove dirt from the excavation site on Thursday, July 11, 2024 and Friday, July 12, 2024. The activities will occur each day between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. Up to 15 trucks will each carry about eight tons of dirt from the lower gate of the plant up More Avenue. Water trucks will clean the streets following Friday's removal effort. More dirt activities are anticipated this month and nearby residents will be informed once details become available. For questions or concerns, contact the neighborhood liaison, Tony Mercado at [email protected] or at 408-426-1039. 

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. 

Rinconada Water Treatment Plant tour led by Sam Bogale, Valley Water’s Deputy Operating Officer of Treated Water
The Rinconada Water Treatment Plant tour was led by Sam Bogale, Valley Water's deputy operating officer of Treated Water.

Take Flight with Us!

Come marvel at the amazing drone videos of the Rinconada Water Treatment Plant Reliability Improvement Project construction site.  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.

Nai Hsueh, explains the importance of the Water Treatment Plant Master Plan Implementation Projec
Valley Water Board Chair, The Honorable Nai Hsueh, explains the importance of the Water Treatment Plant Master Plan Implementation Project.

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.

Deputy Operating Officer Sam Bogale speaks to Rinconada neighbors about the clarifiers and how their upcoming demolition will benefit the treatment plant.
Deputy Operating Officer Sam Bogale speaks to Rinconada neighbors about the clarifiers and how their upcoming demolition will benefit the treatment plant.

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        

For any questions, please contact the water treatment plant's neighborhood liaison, Tony Mercado, at 408-630-2342 or via email at [email protected] 
 

 

Contact information
Neighborhood Liaison Tony Mercado during regular business hours at (408) 630-2342 or by email at [email protected]

If an urgent problem arises after regular business hours, please call the on-duty plant supervisor at (408) 265-2607, ext. 2121.

Valley Water is committed to providing a healthy, clean, reliable and affordable water supply that meets or exceeds all applicable water quality regulatory standards in a cost-effective manner.

Environmental & Community Benefits

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
History & Background
Thumbnail

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.