Recycled Water Rules: San Jose vs Santa Clara
How do recycled water rules rules compare between San Jose, CA and Santa Clara, CA?
San Jose and Santa Clara have similar restriction levels.
San Jose, CA
Santa Clara County
Valley Water and partner retailers operate recycled water programs distributing tertiary-treated water through purple-pipe systems for irrigation and industrial use. South Bay Water Recycling and the SVAWPC supply Santa Clara County under California Code Title 22 standards.
View full San Jose rules →Santa Clara, CA
Santa Clara County
Valley Water and partner retailers operate recycled water programs distributing tertiary-treated water through purple-pipe systems for irrigation and industrial use. South Bay Water Recycling and the SVAWPC supply Santa Clara County under California Code Title 22 standards.
View full Santa Clara rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | San Jose | Santa Clara |
|---|---|---|
| Wholesale agency | Valley Water (SCVWD) | Valley Water (SCVWD) |
| Treatment level | Tertiary or advanced purified | Tertiary or advanced purified |
| Pipe color | Purple under CCR Title 22 | Purple under CCR Title 22 |
| Major distributor | South Bay Water Recycling | South Bay Water Recycling |
| Advanced facility | SVAWPC in Alviso | SVAWPC in Alviso |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
San Jose FAQ
Can I use recycled water at my home?
Single-family residential use is rare. Recycled water mostly serves large landscape, golf, and industrial customers within designated service areas. Valley Water operates residential bulk fill stations during droughts for landscape buckets.
Why are some new buildings dual-plumbed?
Local ordinances and SCC requirements require commercial and industrial buildings within recycled-water service areas to install separate purple-pipe distribution for toilets and irrigation, even before service is connected, to enable future switchover.
Santa Clara FAQ
Can I use recycled water at my home?
Single-family residential use is rare. Recycled water mostly serves large landscape, golf, and industrial customers within designated service areas. Valley Water operates residential bulk fill stations during droughts for landscape buckets.
Why are some new buildings dual-plumbed?
Local ordinances and SCC requirements require commercial and industrial buildings within recycled-water service areas to install separate purple-pipe distribution for toilets and irrigation, even before service is connected, to enable future switchover.
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