Welcome to the Plant Master Plan Update, a snapshot of what’s happening in the three-year effort to develop a master plan for the San Jose/Santa Clara Water Pollution Control Plant (Plant) and its 2,600-acre site—a place more than twice the size of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. We appreciate your interest and participation in this unique project.

WHAT’S NEW?
The Plant Master Plan is beginning the environmental review process: On April 19, 2011, the San José and Santa Clara city councils approved staff to move forward with the environmental review process for the recommended preferred alternative plan. Under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) is required to provide full evaluation of the plan and determine whether there are any potential impacts to the environment that should be addressed. The EIR process seeks input from the public and regulatory agencies. Visit rebuildtheplant.org to view the EIR Notice of Preparation, for more information about the Public Scoping Meetings in June 2011, and to submit comments.

KEY TOPICS

Submit input on the Plant Master Plan environmental review: An Environmental Impact Report (EIR) is being developed for the Plant Master Plan. Attend a Public Scoping Meeting to learn about the master plan and provide your input on what the EIR should address.  

Monday, June 6:  12:30 – 2:30 p.m.
San Jose/Santa Clara Water Pollution Control Plant
700 Los Esteros Road, San José

 Wednesday, June 8:  6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Roosevelt Community Center
901 E. Santa Clara Street, San José

Visit the project website to view the Plant Master Plan EIR Notice of Preparation and submit comments.

Thank you CAG!  After two years and more than 20 meetings, the Community Advisory Group (CAG) has concluded as the Plant Master Plan moves into the environmental review process. Thank you to CAG members for their valuable input and commitment to the project, and to everyone who participated in the process. For more information, visit rebuildtheplant.org  or contact CAG Liaison Kristen Yasukawa at Kristen.yasukawa@sanjoseca.gov

Plant Master Plan recap: View the latest project documents and media coverage –

 Memos to San José City Council – April 19, 2011 

 Final Recommended Alternative map

 Public Input Summary on the Draft Recommended Alternative

 Media coverage about the Plant rebuild, land use proposal, and public art 

Plant tours begin this summer: Sign up for a free, two-hour Plant tour this summer! Tours will resume in June 2011. 

Green your spring cleaning: The Plant does an amazing job of removing pollutants from the wastewater to protect our health and environment. Some items are difficult to remove or neutralize, such as harsh cleaning chemicals, paint, and solvents. Protect your family and the Plant by cleaning your house with natural products, such as vinegar, baking soda, essential oils, and washing soda. These natural products are gentle on the environment, and tough on dirt and scum. You can have a clean home that’s also healthy for you and your family.  Click here for green cleaning ingredients and recipes.

Spring inspires our green thumbs: Water from your yard doesn’t get cleaned at the Plant, but flows directly to the Bay. This year, choose less toxic products when you need to control aphids, ants, whiteflies, snails, and other pests. Insecticidal soaps and horticultural oils are less toxic to ladybugs, spiders, and other beneficial insects that eat the insects you want out of your garden. These alternatives are safer for you, your pets, and our environment. For more information about growing a healthy, less toxic garden, visit the BayWise website.  

Attend a Public Scoping Meeting in June 2011.

Thank you for your participation! 

Check out the recent media coverage.

Learn about your wastewater treatment facility at a Plant tour!

For a healthier clean, choose a green alternative!

PLANT MASTER PLAN TIMELINE

CONTACT US

Submit your feedback through the online comment form or contact Project Manager Kirsten Struve at kirsten.struve@sanjoseca.gov or 408-945-5180. Your feedback is always appreciated!

rebuildtheplant.org

PLANT MASTER PLAN GOALS

• Operational – Result in a reliable, flexible Plant that can respond to changing conditions.
• Environmental – Improve habitat and minimize impacts to the local and global environment.
• Economical – Maximize economic benefits for customers through cost-effective options.
• Social – Maximize community benefits through improved aesthetics and recreational uses.

WANT MORE INFORMATION?

If you are a first-time reader who would like to subscribe to the Plant Master Plan Update, sign up at the Plant Master Plan website.

To unsubscribe from this email, click link below.

Welcome to the Plant Master Plan Update, a snapshot of what’s happening in the three-year effort to develop a master plan for the San Jose/Santa Clara Water Pollution Control Plant (Plant) and its 2,600-acre site—a place more than twice the size of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. We appreciate your interest and participation in this unique project.

WHAT’S NEW?
We’ve made progress toward a final Plant Master Plan:  In January 2011, we collected public input on the draft recommended alternative via five community workshops and an online interactive map and comment form. The comments will help refine the draft recommended alternative to present to the San José and Santa Clara city councils this April. Upon council direction, the project will enter the environmental review process, which also allows for public input.  For more information, sign up for project updates and visit rebuildtheplant.org.

KEY TOPICS

Community submits input at workshops and through online interactive map:  In January 2011, five community workshops were held across the Plant service area to collect public input on the project’s draft recommended alternative. Participants heard a project overview, learned detailed information through display boards and staff, and gave input using a comment wall or via an online interactive map and comment form. More than 180 participants, Community Advisory Group members, and dignitaries attended. Thank you to everyone who participated and provided comments!  All workshop materials and the presentation are available online.

CAG meeting on March 30: The next Community Advisory Group (CAG) meeting is on Wednesday, March 30. For more information or to view CAG meeting agendas and minutes, visit rebuildtheplant.org

San José launches the country’s first Clean Energy Showcase: The City of San José is committed to fostering renewable energy technology at the Plant and beyond. In partnership with the Department of Energy, San José has created the Green Vision Clean Energy Showcase to display innovative solar, wind, and energy efficiency technologies.  Explore new energy solutions for your home or business at a free, one-hour guided tour. Sign up for a Saturday tour or schedule a weekday group tour now through December.

Get a FREE digital thermometer: The Plant protects our Bay each day, and you can too! Mercury is harmful to our health and the environment. Prevent mercury contamination by exchanging your glass mercury fever thermometer for a free digital thermometer. Find a thermometer exchange event in your area at www.sanjoseca.gov/esd/calendar.asp or call 408-945-3000.

Stay tuned for Plant tours in 2011: Sign up for the Plant tour wait list to reserve your spot. Tours are tentatively scheduled to resume in April 2011. Check the website for updated information.

January 2011 community workshops

Are you sewer smart?

Take the quiz to learn about the Plant that we rely on every day!

Clean Energy Showcase 

Exchange your mercury thermometer for a digital one

Tour the Plant

YOU’RE INVITED

Visit our website for event details

• March 30 – Community Advisory Group meeting
• April 2011 – Plant Master Plan presentation to San José and Santa Clara city councils
• April 29 - Earth Day celebration from 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. at San José City Hall. Watch for more information at greenvision.sanjoseca.gov  or energy.sanjoseca.gov.
• June 2011 – Upon council direction, Plant Master Plan to enter environmental review process

PLANT MASTER PLAN TIMELINE

CONTACT US

Submit your feedback through the online comment form or contact Project Manager Kirsten Struve at kirsten.struve@sanjoseca.gov or 408-945-5180. Your feedback is always appreciated!

rebuildtheplant.org

PLANT MASTER PLAN GOALS

• Operational – Result in a reliable, flexible Plant that can respond to changing conditions.
• Environmental – Improve habitat and minimize impacts to the local and global environment.
• Economical – Maximize economic benefits for customers through cost-effective options.
• Social – Maximize community benefits through improved aesthetics and recreational uses.

WANT MORE INFORMATION?

If you are a first-time reader who would like to subscribe to the Plant Master Plan Update, sign up at the Plant Master Plan website.

To unsubscribe from this email, click link below.

Welcome to the Plant Master Plan Update, a snapshot of what’s happening in the three-year effort to develop a master plan for the San Jose/Santa Clara Water Pollution Control Plant (Plant) and its 2,600-acre site—a place more than twice the size of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. We appreciate your interest and participation in this unique project.

WHAT’S NEW?
The project team is creating a recommended alternative that balances operational, economic, environmental, and social goals. Public input collected on the three land use alternatives developed earlier this year will help shape the recommended alternative, which will be presented to the San José and Santa Clara city councils in December 2010 and January 2011, respectively. Council direction will determine the project’s next steps, and a third round of public workshops is anticipated in early 2011.  For more information, sign up for project updates and visit rebuildtheplant.org.

KEY TOPICS

Land use alternatives questionnaire summary available now:  Approximately 330 land use alternatives questionnaires were submitted via the community workshops and project website. Letters from stakeholder groups and business proposals were also received. Review the raw data and land use alternatives questionnaire summary online. A complete public opinion summary of all land use alternatives input collected will be submitted to the San José and Santa Clara city councils in December 2010. 

CAG meeting on October 27: The Community Advisory Group (CAG) has resumed regular meetings. The next meeting is on Wednesday, October 27. For more information or to view CAG meeting agendas and minutes, visit rebuildtheplant.org.

ESA and Jones & Stokes selected for environmental review process: This September, the San José City Council approved an agreement with a joint venture of Environmental Science Associates (ESA) and Jones & Stokes (J&S) to help complete the environmental documentation for the Plant Master Plan. The joint venture will assist the City in completing all of the documents required by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The joint venture has experience on the San Francisco Sewer Master Plan and the Santa Clara Valley Habitat Plan, bringing substantial wastewater and local knowledge to the project. The first phase of the environmental documentation process, scoping the Environmental Impact Report (EIR), will begin in spring 2011 and a final EIR is projected to be presented to the San José and Santa Clara city councils in late 2012 or early 2013.

Plant photo exhibit displayed in San José: Photographer Robert Dawson completed a six-month residency at the Plant and is now exhibiting a selection of his photos in the San José City Hall windows along 4th Street. The Conscience of the City: Treating Wastewater in Silicon Valley exhibit features the employees, lands, treatment process, and history of the Plant, and will be in place through January 2011. An ebook is under development to view the photos online. Capital improvement projects at the Plant generate the 1%-for-art funds used for Dawson’s and future public art projects. For more information, contact Public Art Program Director Barbara Goldstein at 408-793-4337 or barbara.goldstein@sanjoseca.gov.

Renewable energy pilot project receives $1.9 million grant: This August, the City of San José and energy partner Harvest Power, Inc. were on the California Energy Commission’s Notice of Proposed Awards for a $1.9 million grant for a waste-to-energy pilot project. The goal of the pilot project is to study and test a technology that could convert wood waste and Plant biosolids into syngas which could help to power the Plant or produce vehicle fuel.  A robust feasibility study will be conducted initially to determine if the proposed innovative low heat gasification technology is viable.  If the feasibility study is successful, then a small-scale demonstration unit will be built to test the technology on Plant lands. For more information, contact Organics Manager Michele Young at 408-975-2519 or michele.young@sanjoseca.gov.

New facility on Plant site will increase recycled water: The Santa Clara Valley Water District, in partnership with the City of San José, will host a groundbreaking ceremony on Friday, October 22 for an advanced recycled water treatment facility, expanding the site of the existing recycled water pumping station at the Plant. This facility will improve water quality for irrigation, industrial processes, building cooling, and flushing toilets, as well as help reach San José’s goal of beneficially reusing 100 percent of our wastewater. For more information, contact Santa Clara Valley Water District Senior Project Manager Tim Nguyen at 408-265-2600 x2020 or timnguyen@valleywater.org.

CAG members discuss land use options

Aerial of the biosolids drying lagoons

Did you know?

Fats, oils, and grease (FOG) can build up in sewer pipes and cause blockages and overflows that endanger our health and environment. Instead of washing FOG down the drain, pour or scrape it into a can and throw in the trash. Visit the San José Pollution Prevention site for disposal instructions and other ways you can help keep our community clean.

  

Wastewater photo by Robert Dawson

Recycled water facility

YOU’RE INVITED

Visit our website for event details

• October - November – Free Plant tours for 2010 end this November. To make your reservation, visit rebuildtheplant.org or call 408-975-2556.
• October 27 – Community Advisory Group meeting.
• November 18 – Community Advisory Group meeting to review the recommended final land use alternative(s).

PLANT MASTER PLAN TIMELINE

CONTACT US

Submit your feedback through the online comment form or contact Project Manager Kirsten Struve at kirsten.struve@sanjoseca.gov or 408-945-5180. Your feedback is always appreciated!

rebuildtheplant.org

PLANT MASTER PLAN GOALS

• Operational – Result in a reliable, flexible Plant that can respond to changing conditions.
• Environmental – Improve habitat and minimize impacts to the local and global environment.
• Economical – Maximize economic benefits for customers through cost-effective options.
• Social – Maximize community benefits through improved aesthetics and recreational uses.

WANT MORE INFORMATION?

If you are a first-time reader who would like to subscribe to the Plant Master Plan Update, sign up at the Plant Master Plan website.

To unsubscribe from this email, click link below.

Welcome to the Plant Master Plan Update, a snapshot of what’s happening in the three-year effort to develop a master plan for the San Jose/Santa Clara Water Pollution Control Plant (Plant) and its 2,600-acre site—a place twice the size of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. We appreciate your interest and participation in this unique project.

WHAT’S NEW?
Through June 30, 2010, submit your input on the three land use alternative maps at rebuildtheplant.org. The findings will be used to create the recommended alternative. Thank you to those who submitted comments at a community workshop or through the online questionnaire.

KEY TOPICS

Community workshops draw public and media interest: 
In May 2010, five community workshops were held across the Plant service area to collect public input on the Plant Master Plan land use alternatives. Participants heard a project overview, rotated through topic-specific stations, and gave input through a multiple-choice questionnaire with free response sections. More than 200 participants, Community Advisory Group members, and dignitaries attended. See below for media coverage. For more information, visit rebuildtheplant.org.


In the news: View our recent media coverage –

• Coverage of the May community workshop series in The Mercury News, Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal, Silicon Valley Community Newspapers, and The Milpitas Post.
• Rosy Chu of Bay Area People discussed the Plant Master Plan with Environmental Services Director John Stufflebean with shows on May 7 and 9 (KTVU and KICU respectively). Watch the show on our website.
• Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell hosted a Building America’s Future (BAF) press conference at the Plant in February 2010.
• Plant wins Green California Leadership Award for leadership and innovations in implementing energy efficient practices.
  

Sustaining our water supply: The Santa Clara Valley Water District, in partnership with the City of San José, is planning to build an advanced recycled water treatment facility at the Plant. This facility will nearly double the amount of recycled water currently produced for irrigation, industrial processes, building cooling, and flushing toilets, as well as help reach San José’s goal of recycling or beneficially reusing 100 percent of our wastewater. For more information, contact Santa Clara Valley Water District Senior Project Manager Tim Nguyen at 408-265-2600 x2020 or timnguyen@valleywater.org.

Did you know?

The Plant was not designed to remove medicines, which can harm marine life and enter the food chain. Never flush medicines down toilets or drains. Instead, visit hhw.org for disposal instructions or a drop-off location.

  

YOU’RE INVITED

Visit our meeting calendar for event details

• June – Free Plant tours begin. Sign up in advance.
• June 30 – Deadline to submit input on the land use alternatives.
• September – The Community Advisory Group will resume regular meetings in the fall. Meeting details will be posted at rebuildtheplant.org.

PLANT MASTER PLAN TIMELINE

CONTACT US

Submit your feedback through the online comment form or contact Project Manager Kirsten Struve at kirsten.struve@sanjoseca.gov or 408-945-5180. Your feedback is always appreciated!

rebuildtheplant.org

PLANT MASTER PLAN GOALS

• Operational – Result in a reliable, flexible Plant that can respond to changing conditions.
• Environmental – Improve habitat and minimize impacts to the local and global environment.
• Economical – Maximize economic benefits for customers through cost-effective options.
• Social – Maximize community benefits through improved aesthetics and recreational uses.

WANT MORE INFORMATION?

If you are a first-time reader who would like to subscribe to the Plant Master Plan Update, sign up at the Plant Master Plan website.

To unsubscribe from this email, click link below.

Plant Master Plan Update

Charting the next 30 years of the San Jose/Santa Clara Water Pollution Control Plant and its 2,600-acre site

FEBRUARY 2010

Welcome to the Plant Master Plan Update, a snapshot of what’s happening in the three-year effort to develop a master plan for the San Jose/Santa Clara Water Pollution Control Plant (Plant) and its 2,600-acre site—a place twice the size of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. We appreciate your interest and participation in this unique project.

WHAT’S NEW?
The project team is shaping land use alternatives for presentation at community workshops this spring. The alternatives will reflect input from the 1,500 public values surveys collected in 2009 and the project team’s advancements on determining which new operating methods and technologies are adopted for the Plant’s future operations. Visit the Plant Master Plan Web site for more community workshop information.

KEY TOPICS
Forge your future with our Community Advisory Group: Our 18-member Community Advisory Group meets at least monthly and will discuss possible climate change impacts on the Plant and surrounding lands at the February meeting. You are welcome to attend these meetings and provide feedback on this project that will affect your future and that of the next several generations. For meeting information and summaries, visit the Plant Master Plan Web site.

How do we best clean the water? In a nutshell, the purpose of the Plant is to separate solids from the liquids. Expert analysis is pointing us to, for the most part, continue treating the liquid portion of wastewater in the manner that we have been, but to make adjustments to optimize the processes based on new understandings of the technologies, and conditions that have changed since the Plant was built (most notably the higher cost of energy). Entirely new processes may be appropriate for treating the solids that have been removed from the wastewater. These new processes are significantly more expensive, but would make better use of the value of these solids and free up hundreds of acres of land. Details of the treatment improvements are available on the Plant Master Plan Web site.

The Plant’s amazing energy story:  Using 11 megawatts annually – enough to power 10,000 homes year round – the Plant as originally designed is, admittedly, an energy hog. But instead of consuming only fossil fuels, the Plant meets two-thirds of its energy needs with clean methane generated in on-site digesters and by the neighboring landfill. By optimizing processes and upgrading equipment, our Plant is on its way to becoming energy self-sufficient and a global model of green energy production. Learn more about the Plant’s exciting energy story and how our facility will enhance our region’s sustainability.

Did you know?
The EPA named the Plant fourth-place leader for on-site green energy production and use in July 2009.

Yes, we do have a shoreline and we’re reshaping it:  The South Bay shoreline and wetlands are an amazing place, and the Plant site offers opportunities for a range of beneficial uses, including economic, environmental, and social land uses such as parks and trails. Based on the year-long technical and site evaluations and using community input, the project team is developing several land use alternatives to be shared this spring. We’ll ask people what they think of the alternatives, and use the feedback and ideas to form a recommended plan—the Plant Master Plan that will guide operational and land use decisions through 2040.

That’s fine, but what about cost?  $1.5 billion has been estimated for implementing operational improvements in the coming decades. A funding plan and cost analysis are central to the master planning process. Every idea is evaluated for its cost impact, and how it could drive down costs and generate revenue or jobs. Reducing energy expenditures has already been identified as a way to decrease operational costs. More details on possible costs will be presented at the spring community workshops.

YOU’RE INVITED
Visit our meeting calendar for times and locations

• February 10 – Community Advisory Group (CAG) meeting to discuss climate change.
• March 11 – Community Advisory Group (CAG) meeting to discuss Plant infrastructure.
• April 6 – Community Advisory Group (CAG) meeting to discuss regional planning efforts. 
• April/May – Community workshops to provide feedback on the land use alternatives. 
• June – Tours of the Plant begin. Sign up in advance.

CONTACT US
Submit your feedback through the online comment form or contact Project Manager Kirsten Struve at  kirsten.struve@sanjoseca.gov or 408-945-5180. Your feedback is always appreciated!

www.sanjose.gov/esd/plantmasterplan

• Operational – Result in a reliable, flexible Plant that can respond to changing conditions. 
• Environmental – Improve habitat and minimize impacts to the local and global environment. 
• Economical – Maximize economic benefits for customers through cost-effective options. 
• Social – Maximize community benefits through improved aesthetics and recreational uses.

WANT MORE INFORMATION?
If you are a first-time reader who would like to subscribe to the Plant Master Plan Update, sign up at the Plant Master Plan Web site.

To unsubscribe from this email, click link below.