Silicon Valley Clean Water Welcomes New Authority Manager to Lead Agency into the Future
The Silicon Valley Clean Water (SVCW) Commission is pleased to announce the appointment of Matthew Zucca as the new Authority Manager, effective July 1, 2025. Zucca brings a wealth of experience in environmental infrastructure, public agency leadership, and community engagement to the position, and will guide SVCW as it continues delivering safe, reliable, and sustainable wastewater treatment services to more than 220,000 residents and businesses in the Authority’s service area.
Zucca’s appointment is the culmination of a nation-wide recruitment effort and follows the successful tenure of Teresa Herrera, whose leadership for more than a decade has solidified SVCW’s reputation for operational excellence, financial stewardship, and innovation. Under Herrera’s guidance, the agency launched and advanced a transformative Capital Improvement Program (CIP), including sustainable biosolids management initiatives and the Regional Environmental Sewer Conveyance Upgrade (RESCU).
In assuming this role, Zucca expressed a commitment to preserving SVCW’s legacy of excellence while enhancing transparency and connection with the communities it serves. “I’m honored to join a team so deeply committed to protecting public health and the environment,” said Zucca. “SVCW has long been a leader in wastewater treatment, and I look forward to building on that foundation by expanding public engagement and making sure our communities see and understand the value we provide every day.”
As a professional engineer with more than 30 years of experience in the water and wastewater sector most recently as Assistant Director of Utilities at the City of Palo Alto, Zucca also has over 20-years’ experience in consulting where he helped a wide range of clients solve their environmental and infrastructure challenges. Zucca brings a strong track record in strategic planning, cross-agency collaboration, and stakeholder outreach. He is also a 30-year resident of Belmont and has served on the Board of Directors for the Midpeninsula Water District for over 20 years, demonstrating his commitment to and understanding of public service, public agency governance, and our community. Zucca’s leadership of this next chapter for SVCW will include a sharpened focus on community visibility, environmental education, and regional partnerships – all while continuing Herrera’s legacy of meeting and exceeding regulatory standards, implementing needed capital projects, and achieving long-range financial goals.
The SVCW Commission, comprised of representatives from the Cities of Redwood City, San Carlos, and Belmont and the West Bay Sanitary District, unanimously approved Zucca’s appointment during its regular meeting on June 12, 2025, citing his deep understanding of the challenges facing modern utilities and his passion for community-focused leadership.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Matt as our new Authority Manager,” said George Otte, Chair of the SVCW Commission. “The Commission is confident that he will uphold the Authority’s high standards while taking us to new levels of performance in outreach, inter-agency collaboration, and customer service.”
As SVCW embarks on the next phase of its Strategic Plan 2024-2029, including long-term initiatives like potable water reuse and energy neutrality, Zucca will lead a dedicated team in sustaining the agency’s mission: to protect public health and the environment through safe, sustainable wastewater conveyance, treatment, and resource recovery. For more information about Silicon Valley Clean Water, visit www.SVCW.org.