Valley Water
Valley Water is a California special district that supplies wholesale water, flood protection, and watershed stewardship services to all residential, commercial, agricultural, and municipal customers across Santa Clara County.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1929
- HeadquartersSan Jose, United States
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Valley Water does
Valley Water, legally the Santa Clara Valley Water District, is a California special district founded in 1929 and headquartered in San Jose that serves as the exclusive wholesale water supplier, flood protection authority, and watershed steward for all of Santa Clara County. The organization manages a portfolio of dams and reservoirs, water treatment plants, the Silicon Valley Advanced Water Purification Center (which uses ultraviolet light disinfection as part of the Pure Water Silicon Valley program), and 333 miles of creeks. It conducts approximately 150,000 lab tests annually to verify regulatory water quality compliance and operates programs such as the Safe, Clean Water and Natural Flood Protection Program (31 active projects protecting 100,000 parcels), water conservation rebates (up to $3,000 residential and $100,000 commercial), the Adopt-A-Creek volunteer program, and the Watersavings.org consumer portal.
Its underlying technology centers on advanced water purification (including a pioneering direct potable reuse blending study with Stanford University and PureWater Peninsula), seismic-resilient dam infrastructure, GIS-based open data publishing, and a real-time Water Sensor ALERT system. Revenue is generated through recurring monthly water charges applied by customer type and zone (private well owners, agricultural, wholesale) and through property-based assessments that fund the Safe, Clean Water program; the district is also supported by state grants such as a $3.8M award from the California State Coastal Conservancy. The customer base spans residential households, commercial and industrial enterprises (e.g., Gordon Biersch Brewery, Shockwave Medical as named participants in rebate and volunteer programs), agricultural operations, and wholesale municipal retailers, with services distributed via local water retailers, the Access Valley Water customer portal, public tours, and conservation rebate programs.
Recent strategic activity is dominated by major infrastructure modernization: the Anderson Dam Seismic Retrofit Project received Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approval in spring 2026 with construction scheduled to begin January 2027, the Pure Water Silicon Valley Demonstration Facility advanced with a design consultant selection in June 2026, and a landmark direct potable reuse research initiative launched in January 2026. The district is governed by a seven-member elected Board of Directors (with Gary Kremen serving as Vice Chair) and led by CEO Rick Callender.
Valley Water firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Valley Water
- Legal name
- Santa Clara Valley Water District
- Website
- https://valleywater.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1929
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Valley Water is a California special district that supplies wholesale water, flood protection, and watershed stewardship services to all residential, commercial, agricultural, and municipal customers across Santa Clara County.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Valley Water industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Water Utility Services
- NAICS
- Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (22131), Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213)
- SIC
- Water Supply (4941), Sanitary Services (4950)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Watershed/Source Water & Raw Water Quality Monitoring (intakes, reservoirs, groundwater) (EUANAJAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Stormwater Management & MS4 Compliance Services (BPALAMAL), Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Treatment & Wet-Weather Capacity (EUANADAF)
Keywords
Where Valley Water is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Jose
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Valley Water business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Water Charges: Revenue generated from water charges applied to private well owners, agricultural customers, and wholesale customers by zone. The district sets and collects water charges to fund operations and infrastructure maintenance.
- Property-Based Funding: Safe, Clean Water and Natural Flood Protection Program funded through property-based assessments. Protects 100,000 parcels through project efforts.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Residential water rates with conservation assistance |
| Subscription | Monthly | Commercial and multi-family water rates |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
Valley Water product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Valley Water (Santa Clara Valley Water District) is a public water district that supplies wholesale drinking water, provides natural flood protection, and delivers environmental stewardship services across Santa Clara County. The district operates dams, reservoirs, water treatment plants, and 333 miles of creeks; runs the Silicon Valley Advanced Water Purification Center with UV disinfection; conducts 150,000 water quality tests annually; and funds infrastructure through water charges and property-based assessments under the Safe, Clean Water and Natural Flood Protection Program.
Product overview
Valley Water is a government water utility (Santa Clara Valley Water District) providing water supply, flood protection, and environmental stewardship services to Santa Clara County. The organization operates as a unified public services entity rather than a product company, delivering water treatment and purification (including the Silicon Valley Advanced Water Purification Center), flood protection infrastructure, water conservation programs through Watersavings.org, and the Safe, Clean Water and Natural Flood Protection Program with 31 active projects. Core services include water quality testing (150K annual lab tests), creek management (333 miles), water education programs, and community engagement through Adopt-A-Creek. The utility is undergoing major infrastructure modernization including the Anderson Dam Seismic Retrofit Project and Pure Water Silicon Valley initiative for drought-resilient water supply.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Safe, Clean Water and Natural Flood Protection Program Primary district program delivering six priority areas — safe and reliable water supply, toxin and hazard reduction in waterways, earthquake and disaster protection, wildlife habitat restoration, flood protection, and public health and safety — through 31 active projects protecting 100,000 parcels in Santa Clara County. Funded by property-based assessments.
- Water Conservation Programs (Rebates & Surveys)
- Silicon Valley Advanced Water Purification Center
- Water Quality Testing and Treatment
- Flood Protection Services
- Water Education Programs and Public Tours
- Watersavings.org
- Adopt-A-Creek Program
- Water Efficient Technology (WET) Rebate Program
- Water Rate Assistance Program (WRAP)
- Grants and Environmental Protection Partnerships
Quantifiable outcome
- 150,000 water quality lab tests annually ensuring regulatory compliance
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Valley Water
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Valley Water technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Valley Water partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Stanford UniversitycoreStanford researchers William Mitch, Richard Luthy, Scott Fendorf, Ben Maki, and Ben Najm are conducting a landmark research project in collaboration with Valley Water and PureWater Peninsula. This is the world's first study evaluating the effects of blending direct potable reuse (DPR) water with conventional drinking water in distribution systems. The study uses eight pilot-scale pipelines testing four blend ratios while monitoring water quality parameters including corrosion, disinfection byproducts, and microbial biofilms. Findings will guide other utilities conducting similar pilot studies.
- PureWater PeninsulacorePureWater Peninsula collaborates with Valley Water and Stanford University on the direct potable reuse water blending study. This partnership supports the Pure Water Silicon Valley Demonstration Facility Project, selected by the Valley Water Board of Directors on June 9, 2026.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Valley Water competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC): Municipal water and wastewater utility serving San Francisco and surrounding Bay Area communities. Directly comparable in mandate, scale, and Bay Area geography to Valley Water, including wholesale supply, treatment, and watershed management.
- East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD): Large Northern California water and wastewater utility serving Alameda and Contra Costa counties. Comparable as a multi-purpose special district with integrated water supply, treatment, and recycled water programs.
- Orange County Water District: California groundwater management and water reuse leader, operating the Groundwater Replenishment System — a flagship potable reuse initiative. Directly comparable to Valley Water's Pure Water Silicon Valley program and its DPR research focus.
Broad incumbents
- Metropolitan Water District of Southern California: Regional wholesale water supplier serving 26 member agencies across Southern California. Comparable in scale and mission (imported and treated water supply, conservation, treatment) but operates at a much larger geographic scale.
- Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP): Largest municipal utility in the U.S., supplying water and power to Los Angeles. Comparable in integrated water supply, treatment, and conservation mandate, though with a much larger and more diversified service territory.
- California Water Service (Cal Water): Investor-owned regulated water utility serving more than 2 million people across California, including parts of Santa Clara County. Comparable in retail water service delivery and rate-regulated operating model, though private rather than public.
Regional players
- San Diego County Water Authority: Regional wholesale water supplier for San Diego County, focused on imported supply diversification and conservation. Comparable in mission to provide drought-resilient supply and infrastructure investment.
- Contra Costa Water District: Northern California water district serving eastern Contra Costa County with raw and treated water. Comparable as a special district with multi-source supply, treatment plants, and active water recycling programs.
- Sacramento Regional County Sanitation District (SRCSD): Regional wastewater collection and treatment utility for the Sacramento area, with active water recycling initiatives. Comparable in public-agency structure, treatment plant operations, and water reuse focus.
- San Jose Water Company: Investor-owned water utility serving San Jose and surrounding Santa Clara County cities, directly operating within Valley Water's service area. Comparable as a retail water distributor purchasing wholesale supply from Valley Water.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Valley Water social profiles
Digital presenceValley Water financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Valley Water leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Valley Water funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Valley Water M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Valley Water
What does Valley Water do?
Valley Water (Santa Clara Valley Water District) is a public water district that supplies wholesale drinking water, provides natural flood protection, and delivers environmental stewardship services across Santa Clara County. The district operates dams, reservoirs, water treatment plants, and 333 miles of creeks; runs the Silicon Valley Advanced Water Purification Center with UV disinfection; conducts 150,000 water quality tests annually; and funds infrastructure through water charges and property-based assessments under the Safe, Clean Water and Natural Flood Protection Program.
Is Valley Water a public or private company?
Valley Water is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Valley Water founded?
Valley Water was founded in 1929. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Valley Water based?
Valley Water is headquartered in San Jose, United States, in the North America region.
How does Valley Water make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Water Charges are the primary driver. The others are property-Based Funding.
Who are Valley Water's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC), East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) and Orange County Water District. Broad incumbents are Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) and California Water Service (Cal Water). Regional players are San Diego County Water Authority, Contra Costa Water District, Sacramento Regional County Sanitation District (SRCSD) and San Jose Water Company.
Does Valley Water have an API?
No public API is recorded for Valley Water.
What industry is Valley Water in?
Valley Water's product category is Water Utility Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUANAJAH, Watershed/Source Water & Raw Water Quality Monitoring (intakes, reservoirs, groundwater), with a secondary code of BPALAMAL, Stormwater Management & MS4 Compliance Services. Its NAICS code is 22131 and its SIC code is 4941.