2010 Plant Tours

Plant Tour Dates and Reservations

The 2010 Wonders of Our Water Works tours are scheduled to resume in May of 2010. Join the Waiting list! and be one of the first to receive the new schedule when it becomes available.

If you just can’t wait until May, now you can take a virtual Plant tour!  Just follow the link below, then click on the “Existing Situation” graphic button at the bottom of the Plant Master Plan presentation slide. Take a virtual tour of the Plant.

The FREE two-hour bus tour includes:

• Exploring the largest advanced wastewater treatment facility on the West Coast
• Finding out where water from your sinks, showers and toilets goes before it flows into the Bay each day
• Learning how wastewater from 1.4 million residents and 16,000 businesses in eight South Bay cities is cleaned to almost drinking water standards
• Visiting the spot where 90 percent of treated water is released into the South Bay
• Finding out why the Plant needs improvements after over 50 years of working around-the-clock
• Learning about the Plant's ongoing master plan process - one of the region's largest public works projects - and providing your input on the Plant's future
• Learning how 10 percent of treated water is recycled for irrigation and industrial systems
• Visiting the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge - the largest urban wildlife refuge in the nation.  

Location and Directions
San Jose/Santa Clara Water Pollution Control Plant
Administration Building
700 Los Esteros Road
San José, CA 95134

From Highway 237, take the Zanker Road exit. Curve left onto Los Esteros Road. The Plant administration building is ahead on left. View map for directions.

Large Group Tours
For groups of at least 30 participants, please use the large group request form. A 60-day notice is required for large group tours.

Tour Basics
Who: Adults and children over 10-years old.
Where: Plant Administration Building, 700 Los Esteros Road, San José, CA 95134
When: First and third Thursdays and Saturdays. Tours are two hours and provided rain or shine. Please arrive 15 minutes early.
What: See an engineering marvel up close.  The Plant that cleans about 100 million gallons of wastewater to near drinking water standards every day.

Bathrooms are available at the beginning and end of each tour.