The mission of the Santa Clara Water and Sewer Utilities is to provide to our customers, the following:

• A dependable supply of safe, potable water
• Environmentally-sound, wastewater collection, treatment and disposal
• Recycled water, where available, for approved uses including irrigation and industrial processes
• All programs and services are designed and implemented with economic and environmental benefits in mind

COVID-19: No Impact to City of Santa Clara Drinking Water Supply

The City continues to work with regional partners, including its water wholesale providers, as well as County, State and Federal agencies, to monitor the emerging public health crisis. There are no impacts to the drinking water supplies provided to Santa Clara residents and businesses. 

City staff will continue to conduct regular water quality monitoring to ensure the City’s water supply continues to meet all State and Federal standards for drinking water. Based on current evidence, the risk to water supplies remains low. Staff suggests Santa Clarans continue to practice good hygiene, frequently cleaning hands with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer. 

Please refer to SantaClaraCA.gov/CoronavirusUpdates for the latest updates on the City’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Public Advised to NOT Flush Disinfecting Wipes, Paper Towels down Toilet – Throw Them Away instead

State’s Wastewater Treatment Plants May get Overwhelmed, Consumers may face In-home Plumbing backups and Blockages

Post Date: 03/19/2020 10:00 AM

Don't forget, wipes clog pipes!

While public agencies encourage Californians to follow the Centers for Disease Control recommendations to clean surfaces with disinfecting wipes to reduce the spread of COVID-19, it is important to discard those items in the trash, not the toilet. Wastewater treatment facilities around the state are reporting issues with their sewer management collection systems. Flushing wipes and paper towels will clog sewers and cause backups and overflows at wastewater treatment facilities, creating an additional public health risk in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

• Do not flush wipes, paper towels and similar products down toilets
• Even wipes labeled “flushable” will clog pipes and interfere with sewage collection and treatment
• Don't discard wipes in the toilet, but instead to throw them in the trash to avoid backups and overflow.

A majority of centralized sewage collection systems depend on gravity and enough water flow to move along human waste and biodegradable toilet paper. The systems were not designed for individual nylon wipes and paper towels. The wipes and paper towels do not break down like toilet paper, and therefore clog systems very quickly. Wipes are among the leading causes of sewer system backups, impacting sewer system and treatment plant pumps and treatment systems. Many spills go to our lakes, rivers, and oceans where they have broad ranging impacts on public-health and the environment. Preventing sewer spills is important, especially during this COVID-19 emergency, for the protection of public health and the environment.

Additional Resources - Drinking Water:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Water Transmission and COVID-19

Santa Clara Valley Water District: Valley Water closely monitoring COVID-19

San Francisco Public Utilities Commission: SF Water Quality