The complex functions of Santa Rosa Water’s operations are supported by the Administration and Administrative Services divisions, which provide leadership, financial planning, property management, communications, human resources, safety and training, and administrative support.

The Environmental Services division supports and directs regulatory compliance activities to protect public health as well as air, water and land resources to safeguard the natural environment. This includes water quality testing, environmental compliance, managing a state certified environmental laboratory, quality assurance, natural resources management, storm water management, and a creek stewardship program.

Santa Rosa’s Water & Engineering Resources division is comprised of engineers and technical staff that handle long range planning to meet current and future water supply demands, as well as wastewater collection, treatment, and reuse needs. The team implements programs that sustainably reduce water demand by providing WaterSmart education, tools, and support.

Since 1996, Santa Rosa Water has reduced its total gallons of water used per person per day by approximately 40% and continues to see improved water-use efficiency.

In addition to providing planning and conceptual design of water, sewer, and water reuse projects, the Water & Engineering Resources team provides asset management, development of Santa Rosa Water’s capital improvement program, technology support, energy management, and development review services.  

The highly skilled staff of Water Operations maintain the water distribution, wastewater collection and urban water reuse system in Santa Rosa. The water and wastewater system operators are responsible for nearly 1,200 miles of water and sewer pipe, 6,000 fire hydrants, 19 water booster pump stations, 22 water reservoirs, and 17 wastewater pump stations. This includes testing, cleaning, leak repair, fire hydrant maintenance, installation of water meters, operational emergency response, general construction, and more. 

In the key area of Water Reuse Operations, operators at the Laguna Treatment Plant recycle billions of gallons of wastewater annually from the homes and businesses in the region. The Plant serves approximately 230,000 residents in Santa Rosa, Rohnert Park, Cotati, Sebastopol, and the South Park Sanitation District.

Nearly 100% of the tertiary-treated recycled water, biosolids, and methane gas produced at the Plant are beneficially reused. The advanced treated recycled water is used for irrigating landscapes, agricultural and vegetable crops, vineyards, playgrounds and parks, golf courses, and various urban common areas. Recycled water is delivered to these various customers via a complex recycled water distribution system, which includes a 41-mile long pipeline to recharge Calpine’s geothermal steam fields to produce clean, renewable energy for the region. 

Every gallon of recycled water that is beneficially reused saves a gallon of our precious drinking water, and it also benefits the environment - water reuse allows us to leave more water in rivers, lakes, and streams thus preserving sensitive habitat for fish, plants, and wildlife.

 

The Laguna Treatment Plant also annually produces nearly 26,000 tons of biosolids, a nutrient-rich organic byproduct of the water recycling process. These biosolids are beneficially reused through land application to increase crop yields, or composted for use in landscapes and gardens to enhance soil with nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus.

Santa Rosa Water strives to optimize its operations’ energy use and energy generation, maximize recovery of resources, and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. For example, the Plant captures digester gas, methane, and turns it into electricity on-site at the combined heat and power facility. By capturing and reusing the methane on-site Santa Rosa Water is offsetting one-third of the Plant’s electrical demand.

Developing sound and sustainable energy practices, including using renewable energy and implementing energy efficiency and conservation methods help to ensure performance, resiliency, and sustainability. Santa Rosa Water performs energy audits of facilities and operations and has installed a variety of solar energy and energy efficiency projects to significantly reduce Santa Rosa Water’s on-site energy footprint.

Santa Rosa Water has a decades-long commitment and stellar track record of protecting public health and the environment. Combining facilities, programs, and projects managed by well-trained professional staff, with thoughtful, deliberate planning for the future, Santa Rosa Water continues to successfully serve the community by providing a safe and reliable water supply, dependable wastewater collection and treatment, beneficial reuse of recycled water and biosolids, and storm water management.