Jacobs to Modernize One of the Largest Advanced Wastewater Treatment Facilities in Western US

Jacobs has been selected as the progressive design-build contractor for a major modernization of the San José–Santa Clara Regional Wastewater Facility in California, one of the largest advanced wastewater treatment plants in the western United States. The approximately $200 million project targets the facility’s biosolids treatment systems to support long-term capacity, resilience, and energy recovery.

As part of the upgrade, Jacobs will replace and modernize aging mesophilic digesters. The new configuration is intended to reduce the volume of biosolids requiring offsite disposal while improving the conversion efficiency of biogas generated during digestion. The recovered biogas directly supplies the facility’s existing cogeneration system, supporting on-site renewable energy production.

The project scope also includes the addition of a dedicated fats, oils, and grease (FOG) receiving station. This system will allow the facility to accept high-strength organic waste from local commercial sources and convert it into biogas, reducing reliance on natural gas and lowering associated greenhouse gas emissions.

Jacobs’ design approach includes the potential integration of its Microbial Hydrolysis Process, which increases the availability of organic material for digestion. Applied at scale, this process is expected to raise biogas production by up to 36% while reducing daily biosolids output by as much as 74 wet tons. The upgraded infrastructure is also being designed to meet seismic requirements and accommodate projected population and load growth through 2077.

Construction delivery will be supported by Walsh Construction and Structural Technologies as lead contracting partners. The modernization builds on previous upgrades at the facility and is intended to extend asset life while maintaining operational flexibility and energy recovery performance.

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