Water: Recycled Water Use

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Why is this a Climate Smart indicator?

Recycling water increases our regional water supply and reduces the amount of potable water we need to import, helping ensure that we have a reliable water supply.
Using a local water supply requires less pumping and conveyance, reducing energy use and greenhouse gas emissions.

What is the City doing to make progress on this indicator?

In Progress/Ongoing

Support legislative and regulatory items that further the City’s recycled water efforts
Support developments that further the City’s recycled water efforts

Participate in Valley Water’s Countywide Water Reuse Master Plan
Lead Countywide Onsite Water Reuse Working Group
Partner with the WateReuse organization to promote water reuse in the region and state
Pilot alternate water supply programs to develop new sources of recycled water

Evaluating

Develop new municipal codes that further recycled water efforts
Develop a Regional Integrated Water Infrastructure Plan to integrate existing water infrastructure to create a cohesive distribution system conveying non-potable water (including stormwater, non-potable groundwater, and recycled water) to maximize underutilized assets and increase the non-potable water supply.

About the data

Sources

Data on recycled water use come from the South Bay Water Recycling (SBWR) program, which is administered and operated by the City of San José. SBWR receives consumption data quarterly from the recycled water retailers serving San José (City of San José Municipal Water System and San Jose Water Company (SJWC)).

Values for total water use are sourced from the Santa Clara Valley Water District and represent the total amount of water produced in San José by the City Municipal Water System, SJWC, and the Great Oaks Water Company. The amount of water produced in San José by SJWC is estimated as 80 percent of the total amount of water produced by SJWC because approximately 80 percent of SJWC’s customers are within San José city limits.

Limitations

Precise data on the number of SJWC customers located within San José city limits are not available.

Water production indicates the amount of water each company puts into the water distribution system. In addition to water use/consumption by customers, it also includes leaks, theft, and water used for firefighting.

Last updated

June 2022