AECOM Selected to Design Silicon Valley Water Reuse Demonstration Facility

Highlights

• AECOM will provide professional design services for Valley Water's Pure Water Silicon Valley Demonstration Facility.
• The project will evaluate direct potable reuse technologies at the existing advanced water purification center.
• The pilot facility will have capacity to produce up to 200 gallons of water per minute.
• A roughly 10,000-square-foot learning center will support public education and workforce development.
• AECOM will provide engineering, architecture, permitting, project management and technical services.

Lead Paragraph

Expanding water reuse infrastructure can give communities another option for developing locally controlled water supplies while addressing drought and climate-related pressures. AECOM has been selected by the Santa Clara Valley Water District to design a demonstration facility in Silicon Valley that will evaluate advanced treatment technologies for potential direct potable reuse.

Pilot Facility and Learning Center

The Pure Water Silicon Valley Demonstration Facility will be developed at the existing Silicon Valley Advanced Water Purification Center. The pilot plant is planned to process up to 200 gallons per minute and will be used to assess treatment performance, water quality and operational considerations associated with direct potable reuse.

The project also includes a LEED-certified, solar-ready learning center of approximately 10,000 square feet. The facility is intended to provide space for public education, community engagement and workforce development related to water purification and water reuse.

Design and Engineering Scope

AECOM's responsibilities include project management and coordination, engineering and design for the pilot facility, and architectural and building engineering services for the learning center.

The scope also covers regulatory and permitting support, public outreach assistance, quality assurance and quality control, and specialized technical services. AECOM will work with Kennedy Jenks and other subconsultants on the project.

The demonstration facility is intended to provide technical information that can support evaluation of future direct potable reuse applications in the region.

Water Reuse Infrastructure and Market Impact

The project reflects continued investment in water infrastructure aimed at improving supply resilience in California communities facing water availability challenges. For owners and contractors involved in water and wastewater infrastructure, demonstration projects can create demand for specialized treatment, engineering, regulatory and construction capabilities.

The combination of a pilot treatment facility and public learning center also illustrates how water infrastructure projects can incorporate both technical evaluation and community education into a single capital program.

Source: AECOM.