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B3: Hazardous Materials Management and Response*

About This Project

This project allows Valley Water to continue providing a local number to report hazardous materials spills 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Valley Water staff will respond within two (2) hours of the initial report, with spill cleanup in Valley Water rights-of-way performed in a timely manner. Appropriate agencies will be alerted when spills are outside Valley Water jurisdiction.

 

*This project was voter approved as part of the Safe, Clean Water and Natural Flood Protection Program.

Datapoints
Status
Active
Location
Countywide
Schedule
Start FY 2022 / Finish FY 2036
Funding
Safe, Clean Water Fund ($1.1 million); Watershed Stream Stewardship Fund, Water Utility Enterprise Fund
News and UpdatesNews and Updates
Reports and DocumentsReports and Documents
Environmental and Community BenefitsEnvironmental and Community Benefits
History and BackgroundHistory and Background
News & Updates

KPI #1: Respond to 100% of hazardous materials reports requiring urgent on-site inspection in two (2) hours or less.

Data for Fiscal Year 2023-2024 (July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024):

  • Total Number of Reported Hazardous Material Incidents: 171
  • Total Number of Field Responses: 50
  • Total Number of Urgent Incidents: 17
  • Percent of Urgent Field Responses meeting KPI: 100%

August 2024

 

 

For more information:

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Reports & Documents

No current documents.

Environmental & Community Benefits

FY22-36 Key Performance Indicator for the Safe, Clean Water Program 

  1. Respond to 100% of hazardous materials reports requiring urgent on-site inspection in two (2) hours or less.

Benefits

  • Prevents and reduces contaminants in surface and groundwater

  • Encourages public to engage in protecting our waterways

  • Provides a quick, professional response that reduces impacts of hazardous materials spills

Geographic Area of Benefit 

Countywide 

History & Background

About the Safe, Clean Water and Natural Flood Protection Program

In November 2020, voters in Santa Clara County overwhelmingly approved Measure S, a renewal of Valley Water’s Safe, Clean Water and Natural Flood Protection Program.

The program was first passed by voters in 2000 as the Clean, Safe Creeks and Natural Flood Protection Plan, then again in 2012 as the Safe, Clean Water and Natural Flood Protection Program. The renewal of the Safe, Clean Water Program will continue to provide approximately $47 million annually for local projects that deliver safe, clean water, natural flood protection, and environmental stewardship to all the communities we serve in Santa Clara County.

While evaluating ways to improve the 2012 program, Valley Water gathered feedback from more than 21,000 community members. That helped Valley Water create the six priorities for the renewed Safe, Clean Water Program, which are:

  • Priority A: Ensure a Safe, Reliable Water Supply
  • Priority B: Reduce Toxins, Hazards and Contaminants in our Waterways
  • Priority C: Protect our Water Supply and Dams from Earthquakes and Other Natural Disasters
  • Priority D: Restore Wildlife Habitat and Provide Open Space
  • Priority E: Provide Flood Protection to Homes, Businesses, Schools, Streets and Highways
  • Priority F: Support Public Health and Public Safety for Our Community

Each year, Valley Water prepares a report providing a progress update for each of these program priorities, along with fiscal year accomplishments.

To ensure transparency and accountability to the voters, the ballot measure also created an Independent Monitoring Committee, appointed by the Santa Clara Valley Water District Board of Directors. The Independent Monitoring Committee annually reviews the program’s progress to ensure the outcomes are achieved in a cost-efficient manner and reports its findings to the Board. Additionally, the IMC also reviews each proposed 5-year implementation plan prior to its submittal for Board approval.

In addition, the program requires three independent audits.

View the Safe, Clean Water Program’s annual reports, annual IMC audit reports, and independent audits, including a staff response, on the Valley Water website.