City of San Jose - EVG/EDV/COY

Muni Water purchases Hetch Hetchy municipal water and treated water from the San Francisco Public Utility Commission (SFPUC) for distribution to Alviso and North San José residents. In 2017, the Hetch Hetchy Watershed supplied most of SFPUC's water, supplemented by local watersheds in Alameda and Santa Clara counties.

The primary water source comes from spring snowmelt flowing down the Tuolumne River to the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir for storage. This water source meets all federal and state requirements for watershed protection, disinfection treatment, bacteriological quality monitoring, and operational standards, earning a filtration exemption from the state and USEPA.

The Alameda Watershed covers over 35,000 acres in Alameda and Santa Clara counties. Rainfall and runoff collect in the Calaveras and San Antonio reservoirs, and this water undergoes treatment at the Sunol Valley Water Treatment Plant (SVWTP) before distribution.

Since 2011, SFPUC has employed ultraviolet light as an additional disinfection method for Hetch Hetchy water. Fluoridation, chloramination, and corrosion control treatments are applied to the combined Hetch Hetchy and SVWTP water at the Sunol facilities.

SFPUC proactively protects its natural water resources through regular watershed assessments, sanitary surveys, water quality monitoring, and contamination prevention measures. These reports are available for review through the SWRCB San Francisco District office.

In 2017, groundwater from local deep wells in North San José supplemented the SFPUC supply, meaning some customers received a blend of groundwater and SFPUC water. This may cause slight differences in taste and odor since groundwater typically contains higher mineral content than surface water. Muni Water conducted a source water assessment of these wells in January 2003.

For the Evergreen Service Area, Muni Water purchases treated surface water from the Santa Clara Valley Water District (SCVWD). This water primarily comes from the South Bay Aqueduct, Dyer Reservoir, Lake Del Valle, and San Luis Reservoir (all drawing from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta watershed), as well as local sources including Anderson and Calero reservoirs.

This water undergoes treatment at three San José plants where, since 2006, SCVWD has used ozone as the primary disinfectant. Ozone effectively inactivates microbes, produces fewer disinfection byproducts than chlorine, and removes unpleasant tastes and odors caused by seasonal algal blooms in Delta source waters.

SCVWD source waters face potential contamination from agricultural and urban runoff, livestock grazing, residential and commercial development, wastewater treatment plant discharges, seawater intrusion, wildfires, industrial parks, and historic mining operations. However, no related contaminants have been detected in SCVWD treated water, thanks to multiple treatment barriers for physical removal and disinfection.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yard Waste Disposal Information

The Yard Waste Drop-Off Site operates from the last Wednesday in March through the final Sunday in November. Only the following items are accepted:

• Grass Clippings
• Brush/Branches (maximum 20" diameter and 6' long)
• Leaves

NO CONTRACTORS! Village residency required with photo ID verification.

Location: 6900 Nicholson Road (west of the Safety Building)

Hours of Operation:

• Wednesday: 1:30 pm-7:00 pm
• Saturday: 10:00 am-4:00 pm
• Sunday: 11:00 am-5:00 pm

Neighbor Relations and Property Maintenance

Many residents maintain their properties diligently, which benefits neighborhood property values. If issues arise with neighboring properties, remember that maintaining positive relationships is important for long-term harmony.

Municipal regulations may address certain concerns through our Code of Ordinances, but please note that the Village can only regulate certain aspects of private property. Relevant regulations include:

• TITLE 8 - Community Welfare, Refuse and Sanitation
• TITLE 11 - Offenses and Nuisances
• TITLE 17 - Public Health

Contact Information for Specific Issues:

• Public Health concerns: Health Department (262) 898-4460
• Lawn/yard issues: Weed Commissioner (262) 835-6458
• Public Nuisances: Non-Emergency Police (262) 886-2300
• General inquiries: Main office (262) 835-4451

After-Hours Utility Emergencies

For fire, medical or law enforcement emergencies, dial 911. For utility emergencies such as water outages, broken mains, sewer overflows, or blockages requiring immediate attention, call: (262) 939-3409