The Placer County Water Authority highlights water projects in Tahoe

TAHOE CITY, Calif. – Collaboration among Placer County utility districts continues to pay dividends in both water quality and quantity, according to reports presented at the September meeting of the Placer County Water Agency (PCWA) Board of Directors. Local utility districts have addressed issues such as copper and lead levels, upgrading water meters, combating algae blooms and replacing water mains, as well as dealing with emergencies while continuing to provide reliable water service to their customers.

With PCWA's support, this success has laid the foundation for ambitious projects that will have long-term positive impacts, such as a new water treatment plant that uses Lake Tahoe's surface water to serve more than 2,000 connections.

These projects go beyond water: fire protection, forest management and energy recovery are part of a
planned a $10 million wood-fired power plant that could provide heat to residents of the Tahoe region.

On September 19, the PCWA board met in North Lake Tahoe for its annual East Slope board meeting to receive updates from local utility districts. Hosted by the North Tahoe Public Utility District (NTPUD), this meeting is a valuable and useful opportunity for PCWA to engage with key partners and gain insight into ongoing and future water infrastructure projects in the Tahoe Basin.

“The shared insights shared during the East Slope board meeting underscore the importance of collaboration among our agencies,” said PCWA Board Chairman Robert Dugan. “By sharing our experiences, successes and challenges, we can accelerate the learning curve for new initiatives. This exchange of information about programs, projects and regulatory hurdles equips each county with the tools necessary to implement successful public water and infrastructure projects.”

Here are some highlights:

Donner Summit Public Utility District (DSPUD)

Steve Palmer, general manager, outlined the county's unique challenges, including managing water supplies for ski resorts, Caltrans and homes at high elevations. He outlined efforts to combat algae blooms in Lake Angela and discussed the upcoming dam infrastructure testing project. Palmer also highlighted the district's water supply stability study, funded in part by PCWA's FAP, and plans to establish a connection with the Sierra Lakes County Water District. DSPUD addresses infrastructure issues, including relocating water mains in the Big Bend area, which is also partially funded by PCWA's FAP.

Tahoe City Public Utility District (TCPUD)

Tony Laliotis, Director of Utilities, shared a comprehensive update and thanked PCWA for its many years of financial and technical support. TCPUD serves the north and west shores of Lake Tahoe and faces challenges with 16 broken water systems, including public and private facilities. Laliotis highlighted the acquisition of Tahoe Swiss Village Utility, Inc., which is scheduled to transition by January 1, 2025. TCPUD has also made significant progress on the $27.5 million West Lake Tahoe Regional Water Treatment Plant Project. Funded in part by $782,500 from PCWA's Financial Assistance Program (FAP), this project will utilize Lake Tahoe's surface water to serve up to 2,200 connections, with treatment capacity expandable to 1,000 gallons per minute. Additionally, Laliotis discussed future projects such as the Mid-Sierra Reconstruction and West Shore Storage Augmentation, both of which are critical to improving the regional water system and long-term reliability.

North Tahoe Public Utility District (NTPUD)

Brad Johnson, general manager, discussed the district's aggressive capital investment plan, which includes proposed rate adjustments that would double investments in the water system. This will finance the replacement of smaller water pipes and improve fire protection. Johnson emphasized the importance of creating a comprehensive hydraulic model to unify patchwork water systems and improve fire protection for the community with support from PCWA's FAP award. He also reported on a recent raw sewage spill that triggered a rapid and coordinated response from nine different agencies, underscoring the value of collaboration and strong relationships among utility districts.

Olympic Valley Public Service District (OVPSD)

Charley Miller, General Manager, provided insight into their ongoing projects, including the early stages of a Prop. 218 rate study and their comprehensive municipal wildfire protection plan initiated in 2022. This plan has identified five critical areas for improvement, with a focus on community involvement in fire safety measures. The OVPSD is recognized as a fire-focused community and actively collaborates with the local fire department on wildlife training and green waste programs.

Miller noted that the Tahoe National Forest Foundation's recent $2.5 million in funding will support hundreds of acres of fuel management projects. OVPSD is also conducting a water meter replacement program that has upgraded approximately 480 meters so far and is scheduled to be completed next year. OVPSD received more than $371,000 for this program through PCWA's FAP. In addition, an emergency intertie project to improve water supply reliability is currently being constructed with the help of PCWA's FAP, with a grant of more than $400,000.

Northstar Community Services District (NCSD)

Mike Geary, deputy general manager, thanked PCWA staff for their continued support, particularly with fuel management initiatives. He emphasized the importance of cooperation in providing services such as water, sewage, fire and road maintenance. Geary discussed the completion of the Martis Valley Trail, which will connect Northstar Village to Truckee, providing greater access and connectivity for residents and visitors. He shared that the NCSD is also building a wood energy plant that will utilize biomass from local forest fuel reduction projects, significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions while providing heating solutions for the village. This $10 million project, funded in part by grants and PCWA's FAP, aims to create a sustainable energy cycle that reuses wood waste, contributing to the community's climate resilience efforts.

Truckee Donner Public Utility District (TDPUD)

Chad Reed, director of the water utility, reported on the district's focus on service reliability and safety, which has resulted in improved operational efficiency and customer service. Reed highlighted the county's ongoing efforts to comply with new lead and copper regulations, including a comprehensive survey of approximately 2,000 service connections and ongoing implementation of technology that improves compliance with water quality regulations.

Steven Poncelet, director of public information and strategic affairs for TDPUD, concluded the presentation with an update on the ongoing challenges the District faces related to state and federal laws and regulatory activities, as well as potential solutions it is implementing, to ensure regulatory compliance while minimizing impact on customers.