The city of Sunnyvale will move forward with expanding its recycled water system after approving a plan last week to create a loop of pipes connecting areas within the city and beyond the city limits.
The plan, approved by the Sunnyvale City Council Aug. 13, would approximately triple the system's capacity when completed.
(map courtesy City of Sunnyvale) This Recycled Water Feasibility Study shows where the existing recycled water system (purple pipes) are currently in place in the city of Sunnyvale
The current system is operated by the city and primarily serves landscape irrigation demands in the commercial and industrial area north of Highway 101. Recycled water is produced at the Sunnyvale Water Pollution Control Plant.
The new system would require 16 pipeline alignments throughout the city and would be divided into four phases. The project would total around $43 million in construction, design, permitting and contingency of both the pipeline and associated customer retrofits.
Phase 1 would include Iris Avenue, Marion Way, Dartshire Way and Wolfe Road. The Wolfe Road Alignment Project, which would serve Apple Campus 2, has been given priority for implementation. Apple has been proactively working with the city on the proposed project.
A cost-sharing agreement between Sunnyvale and the Santa Clara Valley Water District for the design and construction of the Wolfe Road Recycled Water Project is scheduled to be submitted for council consideration by Sept. 10.
"We've been talking to Apple for about a year and a half about this, and they're very interested in working with us to make this happen. It's a great opportunity," said John Stufflebean, Sunnyvale's director of environmental services.
Funding for the rest of the project is expected to come from a combination of sources, including grants, low-interest loans, partnerships with neighboring agencies, contributions from potential customers and user fees.
Phase 2 of the expansion project would include in-fill sites and Duane Avenue. Phase 3 would be Lakehaven Drive, Maude Avenue, Kifer Road East and Kifer Road West. Phase 4 would include Gail Avenue, Old San Francisco Road, Manet Drive, Sunnyvale Saratoga Road, Remington Drive, Carson Drive and the Main Loop, which would connect them all.
"I appreciate very much that they're phased, that we know what the phases are, that we know what they're doing," Sunnyvale Councilwoman Tara Martin-Milius said at the Aug. 13 meeting. "I think we need it very badly. I think there's a lot of demand coming down without an increase in the amount of potable water, so this gives us some options and this is the main step one."
To help improve recycled water quality and production, the city will explore the use of the membrane bioreactor (MBR) process. An MBR system combines activated sludge biological treatment, which Sunnyvale already uses, with an integrated membrane system to provide both secondary treatment and tertiary filtration.
City staff will continue to seek ways to expand the system throughout the city as well as surrounding cities. Sunnyvale's aspirations to tap into San Jose's recycled water supply were stymied in September 2012 after financial concerns led San Jose to put things on hold, but the city remains hopeful.
"I'm really hoping that in the future San Jose gets hooked up with us," Mayor Tony Spitaleri said at the meeting. "Maybe this will help entice them to see that we're moving forward, and maybe they'll want to move forward with us."
The final vote was 4-0, with Vice Mayor Jim Griffith recused and councilmen Chris Moylan and Jim Davis absent.
For more information, visit recycledwater.insunnyvale.com.
