In an area like Squaw Valley that is surrounded with so many lakes, rivers and streams one might ask, why should we worry about conserving water?

For many years residents in Squaw Valley felt that water was plentiful.  However, growth in the commercial sector coupled with the larger new homes being built in Squaw Valley has led to ever increasing demands on the water supply.  Many older homes have been remodeled.  Almost all the expansion has come with landscaping.  In evaluating water use patterns we find that 60% of water use in the summer months is for outdoor irrigation.  Today the District has allocated all of its water supplies and is not issuing "will serve" commitments to new developments.

In an effort to meet increasing demands the District has undertaken a number of projects over the past decade designed to augment supplies or replace aging water wells. During this time through attempts by both the District and developers we learned that the water under most of the valley is highly mineralized and of little use for domestic purposes.  Due to the need for additional knowledge regarding the limitations of this precious resource the District initiated a study of the Squaw Valley Aquifer.  Funded by the State of California Department of Water Resources (DWR) the Squaw Valley Groundwater Development and Utilization Feasibility Study (Groundwater Study) was completed in October 2001 at a cost of over ½ Million Dollars.  For more information on the Groundwater Study please contact our office.

The results of the Groundwater Study show there is much less usable water in Squaw Valley than anticipated in the past.  In order to provide additional supplies almost all new water sources will need to be treated to reduce the natural mineral content.  Even with a water treatment facility there will not be enough water to meet the build out projections in the 1984 Squaw Valley General Plan.  The Groundwater Study indicates that Conservation will be a key factor in distributing this natural resource fairly and equitably.

In addition to the consumptive use of the Squaw Valley Aquifer the District is presently experiencing one of the worst droughts of record.  The Squaw Valley Aquifer reached record low levels in 2001.  Some of the District's wells are fairly shallow and one well had to be taken off line due to the drought conditions.

What is the District doing?

In 1989 the Squaw Valley Public Service District Water Rate Advisory Committee (WRAC) established a declining rate structure that was designed to encourage landscaping and erosion control.  In the fall of 2000 the District with help from the community again established a WRAC.   The WRAC identified a need to adjust water rates to more fairly distribute the costs and to provide an incentive for customers to conserve.  The Committee voted to eliminate the lowest tier of the old declining rate structure that went into affect in July 2001.  The WRAC will be meeting again in 2002 to discuss further rate adjustments.

 The District has implemented a water audit and leak detection program that includes, an automated meter reading system, annual leak surveys of the distribution system, and computer analysis of water loss.  This program allows us to identify possible leaks and more closely monitor high usage patterns.  The District sends out notices regularly to customers informing them of possible water leaks.  The District is also launching an educational program to make the public more aware of the need to conserve.

 The District will soon be implementing the Groundwater Management Plan identified in the Groundwater Study.  The initial steps in the Groundwater Management Plan will include increase monitoring of Squaw Creek and the aquifer.  The information will be utilized to calibrate and utilize a computer model that was developed as part of the Groundwater Study.

What can you do?

In June 2001 the District enacted a Water Conservation Ordinance.  Most of the items contained in the Ordinance are for a water emergency.  However, there are a number of do's and don’ts that if adhered to will result in less water wastage in Squaw Valley.  For more information please refer to the District Water Code.

The most important thing is to plan your landscaping using native and drought tolerant species and fine tune automatic irrigation systems.  There are a number of other things such as installing low flow fixtures that will collectively reduce water demand.  If you wish to conserve or want to lower your water bill please refer to the conservation tips posted on this web site (High Water Use) or contact our office.  The District offers free copies of the Home Landscaping Guide for Lake Tahoe and Vicinity to District customers.  Just come by our office and pick up a copy or if you live out of the area call us and we will mail you one.

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