Today, recycled water is an essential strategy for managing water resources. Kennedy Jenks (KJ) partners with communities to develop innovative solutions that strengthen water supplies and build long-term resilience. Founded in San Francisco in 1919, we have grown alongside the advancement of water reuse for more than a century.
Early Recycled Water Use
One of California's earliest recycled water projects began in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park in the 1930s. KJ consulted on the design of the irrigation system that distributed recycled water from the McQueen Treatment Plant throughout the park. Decades before water reuse became a widely adopted water management strategy, the project demonstrated how recycled water could help conserve valuable drinking water supplies and support sustainable resource management. Although advances in treatment practices eventually led to the decommissioning of the original system, the project remains an important milestone in California's water reuse history.
Nearly a century later, that early vision is coming full circle. KJ is currently supporting the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) Westside Enhanced Water Recycling Project, which will return recycled water to Golden Gate Park by late 2027. This project builds on the city's long history of water innovation while helping strengthen its long-term water supply resilience.
Water Reuse Today
Across California, water reuse evolved from an emerging practice into a critical strategy for addressing growing water supply challenges. Advances in treatment technology, evolving regulations, and decades of innovation transformed recycled water into a reliable resource that helps communities protect drinking water supplies and prepare for the future.
Putting Water Reuse into Practice
Today, KJ continues to build on more than a century of engineering experience, partnering with communities across California and throughout the country to advance resilient, sustainable water reuse solutions. We support water reuse projects from planning and permitting through design, construction and implementation. Highlights include the Westside Pure Water Monterey, Northern California's first indirect potable reuse project, and our current work supporting Valley Water in developing Northern California's first direct potable reuse pilot system. These projects reflect our long-standing commitment to helping communities build resilient, reliable water supplies for the future.
Read more about our innovative water reuse solutions and work on the Pure Water Monterey Project.
Read more about the Westside Enhanced Water Recycling Project from SFPUC.
About Kennedy Jenks
Kennedy Jenks is a leading water and environmental engineering and environmental sciences firm that serves public agencies and private-sector clients with ~500 employees nationwide. The employee-owned firm delivers innovative design, construction, and technology solutions for water and environmental projects across the United States.
Media Contact
For more information about Kennedy Jenks, please contact Media@KennedyJenks.com.
The information on this page was accurate at the time of publication.
