Several Democratic Northern California Members of Congress joined me today as we introduced legislation that will expand the successful Bay Area water recycling program.

Water recycling is already underway in communities throughout the Bay Area – including in Antioch - water recycling projects allow local water managers to treat wastewater and use the clean, recycled water for landscape irrigation and other uses, including at golf courses and city parks. Reusing this treated water helps preserve river and groundwater supplies in the Bay Area. In addition, treating and reusing wastewater allows urban water systems to improve the reliability of the local water supply.

The legislation we introduced today will authorize 13 additional Bay Area water recycling projects, making them eligible for federal funding. This will allow water and wastewater agencies in the Bay Area to work with the federal government to develop more than 34,000 acre-feet of annual, sustainable, reliable clean water supply for our communities. These 13 projects are estimated to support an estimated 6,000-9,000 jobs, increase economic development and improve water quality.

Investing in new water supplies like water recycling will keep our state and our economy competitive. Water recycling projects are an important piece of the water puzzle and solution for our region and for California. By increasing the number of water recycling projects, we will allow Bay Area communities access to a new water supply to help stabilize both our water resources and our local economies.

The legislation was cosponsored by Reps. John Garamendi, Zoe Lofgren, Anna Eshoo, Jackie Speier and Peter Stark.

The Project List:

• Central Contra Costa Sanitary District (CCCSD) – Concord Recycled Water Project


• Contra Costa County Refinery Recycled Water Project, Phase 1


• Central Redwood City Recycled Water Project


• Central Dublin Recycled Water Distribution and Retrofit Project and others


• Delta Diablo Sanitation District (DDSD) Recycled Water Advanced Treatment and Expansion Project


• Dublin Recycled Water Expansion Project


• Hayward Recycled Water Project


• Ironhouse Sanitary District Recycled Water Project


• Mountain View Recycled Water Project


• Palo Alto Recycled Water Pipeline Project


• Pleasanton Recycled Water Project


• San Jose Water Company Recycled Water Project


• Yountville Recycled Water Project

More information on the projects that would be authorized by this legislation can be found here.