STPUD board meeting to highligh 2018 water and sewer improvements

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - In 2014, the South Tahoe Public Utility District’s Board of Directors approved a series of annual rate increases to fund more than $50 million in critical improvements to South Tahoe’s water, wastewater, and recycled water systems. These upgrades lower long-term costs, improve fire flow, protect the environment and ensure longterm, quality service. On Thursday, December 20, 2018 at 6 p.m. the District will host a public meeting on the upgrades to the water, sewer and recycled water systems, and the ongoing improvements still needed.

Water system upgrades improve fire flow and water conservation. Over the last five years, the District has installed more than 200 new fire hydrants and 23,000 feet of larger waterlines to improve fire flow throughout our community. To comply with the state’s mandate, the District installed 5,400 new water meters with the final 2,000 to be completed in the next two years. Using water wisely reduces water bills, energy consumption, our carbon footprint, and the need to build new wells.

While significant progress has been made, much remains to be done in order to provide adequate fire flow throughout the entire service area. More than 10 percent of our community still lacks access to a fire hydrant that will provide sufficient fire flow. Additional investments are needed to extend the life of the water system to ensure reliable delivery of high quality water and meet firefighting needs.

The District exports all treated wastewater out of the Tahoe Basin to keep Lake Tahoe blue. An average of 3.9 million gallons of recycled water is pumped over Luther Pass every day. The Luther Pass Pump Station has been in continuous operation since 1968. Pump upgrades, new high efficiency motors, and new electrical and control gears were completed to increase the reliability and efficiency of this critical pump station. In addition, a new irrigation and energy recovery facility in Alpine County were installed to produce alfalfa and enough hydro-electricity to power 55 homes.

Over the last five years, four vital wastewater treatment plant facilities were rehabilitated. This extends the life of these facilities for many decades and maintains the District’s 23 year record of meeting treatment requirements. Improvements were also completed at Fallen Leaf Lake and on the Upper Truckee Marsh to prevent sewage spills into these sensitive and beautiful areas.

During the big winter of 2017 stormwater entered the sewer system causing peak flows and risking sewer spills. In response, the District initiated a condition assessment program and developed a 10-year improvement plan to fix sewer lines that are failing. Major upgrades are still needed at the five largest sewer pump stations and treatment plant to extend their useful life and keep sewage flowing reliably.

The public is invited to learn more about their water, wastewater and recycled water system on Thursday,December 20, 2018 at 6 p.m. in the District Board Room at 1275 Meadow Crest Drive, South Lake Tahoe.