Proposed 2026-2027 Water, Sewer and Recycled Water Rates

Delivering Affordable High-Quality Services to the Community

Our Mission & Vision

To provide our community with high-quality, reliable, economical and environmentally sustainable water, wastewater and recycled water services in a manner that protects these resources for future generations. As leaders in the community, we ensure clean water and a sustainable future for generations to come through innovation and managing environmental resources while providing an exceptional level of customer and community service.

Our Utilities

We serve approximately 26,000 service connections, including both residential and commercial customers. The water system includes 335 miles of water mains, 21 active groundwater wells, and seven storage tanks with a total capacity of over 28 million gallons. Potable water delivery is supported by proactive maintenance and capital projects to update infrastructure. A robust sampling program ensures compliance with all federal and state standards. In addition to maintaining water quality, our responsibilities extend to the City's wastewater system.

Our wastewater collection system includes approximately 26,000 sewer connections via 288 miles of sewer mains, and seven lift and pump stations. Our operations include 20% co-ownership of the San José-Santa Clara Regional Wastewater Facility (RWF), which is administered and operated by the City of San José. Furthermore, our commitment to resource sustainability is reflected in our recycled water delivery.

We supply recycled water to approximately 350 accounts via 33 miles of mains. Sourced from the City of San José's South Bay Water Recycling, this water is used solely for non-potable purposes such as irrigation and industrial processes.

Rethinking Drought

Recurring droughts force utilities and consumers to rethink relationships with our most precious resource: clean water. As a utility, we expanded rebate cost-sharing with our regional partners and our customers' participation continued despite the absence of drought conditions. Of the top three years for lawn conversions and other rebate participation, 2025 ranked third (the only year of the three that we were not in drought), proving that Santa Clarans have embraced a conservation mindset.

Making Conservation a California Way of Life in Santa Clara

Our second reporting year under California's new water use efficiency legislation showed that Santa Clara met the conservation challenge. We still have work to do in moving toward the State's current objective of 43 gallons per capita per day; we must not waiver in our commitment to this goal. For us, conservation and sustainability are fundamental strategies, not based on the weather.

Where We Are Now

With Northern Sierra snowpack below 10% of normal despite copious winter rains, drought may be fast approaching. As a utility, we need to prepare for droughts that may continue to come more often. Utilities like ours face revenue challenges and higher costs. Our wholesale partners continue to raise the fees charged to the City each year. Many of them face the same fiscal challenges that that we do. We continue to make significant capital investments in the jointly owned RW. Ongoing investments and loan payments on those investments push our rates higher. We make important long-term investments in all of our systems, build our emergency reserves, and work to keep future rate increases steady, all while providing high quality utility services to our customers.

Participate in the Public Process 

Proposed rate increases for Water & Sewer Utilities will be considered for adoption at the public hearing on June 9 at 7 p.m., or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard. This meeting will be held in a hybrid manner (in-person and remotely) during the regular City Council meeting.

• Tuesday, June 9 at 7 p.m.
• Santa Clara City Hall Council Chambers
• 1500 Warburton Avenue, Santa Clara

Meetings are conducted in a hybrid manner and can also be accessed as follows:

• Zoom Meeting ID: 997-0675-9306
• Phone: 1-669-900-6833
• The meeting agenda will be posted at: SantaClara.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx

If you cannot participate in the meeting, you may formally protest the proposed increases in writing, as protests cannot be accepted via email or telephone. Written protests must be received before the close of the public hearing.

How to Submit a Written Protest

If you wish to formally protest the proposed increase and cannot attend the public hearing, send in your written protest by the close of the hearing on Tuesday, June 9, 2026. Protests cannot be accepted via email or telephone; to be counted, they must either be mailed or hand-delivered to:

• City Clerk’s Office – Utility Rate Comments
• City of Santa Clara
• 1500 Warburton Ave.
• Santa Clara, CA 95050

When submitting a written protest, include:

• Name
• Signature
• Address of the property for which you are the owner or utility customer
• Rate(s) you are protesting

Written protests can be submitted at any time before the close of the public hearing on June 9, 2026. If protests are received from a majority of the parcels affected by the proposed rate increase by the close of the public hearing, the City Council will not impose the increase.

If you have questions, call Water & Sewer Utilities at 408-615-2000 or email water@santaclaraca.gov.