AECOM has been chosen by the Santa Clara Valley Water District (Valley Water) to lead design services for the Pure Water Silicon Valley Demonstration Facility project in California, US.
The new project seeks to advance direct potable reuse (DPR) as a local, drought-resilient source of drinking water for Silicon Valley.
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Planning, design and construction for the demonstration facility may cost up to $100m.
Under the contract, AECOM will direct the design of a new DPR pilot facility at the existing Silicon Valley Advanced Water Purification Center.
The pilot is designed to produce up to 200 gallons of water per minute and will assess advanced treatment technologies for potential DPR applications.
The project also includes a new LEED-certified, solar-ready learning centre measuring approximately 10,000ft².
The facility will focus on public education, community engagement and workforce development, offering information on advanced water purification and water reuse.
AECOM global Water business chief executive Beverley Stinson said: “Drawing on our extensive experience delivering advanced water reuse and purification facilities, we are proud to partner with Valley Water on this groundbreaking effort.
“This project is the first-of-its-kind and represents one of the most comprehensive evaluations of DPR-advanced water treatment technologies, helping further the knowledge and regulatory understanding needed to support future water reuse programs and shape the future of DPR in the region.”
AECOM’s responsibilities encompass project management, pilot facility design and engineering, regulatory and permitting support, architectural services for the learning centre, public outreach, quality assurance and additional technical inputs.
The company will work with Kennedy Jenks and other subconsultants to help Valley Water evaluate treatment performance, water quality and operational issues that could shape future DPR developments.
Pure Water Silicon Valley is managed as a partnership between Valley Water and the cities of San José and Santa Clara, aiming to advance local water supply resilience.
The demonstration initiative forms part of Valley Water’s wider plans, which include a future full-scale facility projected to deliver up to 24,000 acre-feet of purified water each year by 2035 at an estimated cost of $2.5bn.
The Silicon Valley Advanced Water Purification Center, operational since 2014, has served as a testing ground for water reuse technology and public education in the region.
