Nevada Division of Environmental Protection - Office of Financial Assistance

Topaz Ranch Estates General Improvement District - Distribution System Improvement Project - Phase III

BACKGROUND

Topaz Ranch Estates is located near Topaz Lake on Highway 208 in southern Douglas County, approximately 17 miles south of Gardnerville and 6 miles west of Wellington. Topaz Ranch Estates is a rural development of homes on primarily 2-acre or larger lots. The original intent of the developer, John Arden, was that each home would have its own domestic well. When homeowners had difficulty developing productive domestic wells, Mr. Arden started serving Topaz Ranch Estates with his own wells and a water utility was formed.

The Topaz Ranch Estates General Improvement District (TREGID) was first created by the Douglas County Commission with powers limited to operation of a road system and drainage facilities for the subdivision known as Topaz Ranch Estates. After a long history of water complaints from their constituents, TREGID considered purchasing the water system. This utility was privately owned and was operated under the jurisdiction of the Nevada Public Utilities Commission until December 16th, 1997, when the ownership of the utility was transferred to TREGID.

In June 1999, the Board for Financing Water Projects (Board) awarded a grant of $2,398,372 (85% of the eligible project cost of $2,829,893) to TREGID. The project included the replacement of a section of water main, with fire hydrants and service connections on the new section, and 2 new storage tanks.

TREGID has 890 acre-feet of water rights and uses approximately 325 acre-feet of water per year. TREGID has four active wells and one inactive well. Well #1 is the newest of the GID's wells (constructed in 1980) and is the primary production well supplying about 75% (approximately 525 gpm) of the water used in the system. Well #3 was drilled and constructed in 1978. It is capable of pumping 185 gpm; however, the well will run dry if continuously pumped. The TREGID runs Well #3 on a two weeks on 2 weeks off cycle. The remaining active wells (Wells 2 and 5) do not produce enough water to act as a back-up for Well #1. If Well #1 was taken off-line for a significant length of time, the TREGID would be unable to meet their average daily demand in the summer months. Water quality is in accordance with State and Federal drinking water requirements.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The Topaz Ranch Estates General Improvement District applied for a second grant under the AB-198 program to assist with further water system improvements. A grant was approved by the Board on March 14, 2007, for an amount not to exceed $1,471,452.01 (67.48% of the estimated eligible project cost of $2,180,000). This project will install a new well and approximately 14,300 linear feet of new 8-inch C900 PVC water main. The project will also install approximately 27 gate valves, 40 fire hydrants, and will tie 100 existing services to the new main. The old 4-inch mains are over 25 years old and experience maintenance costs due to leaks. In addition, these mains are unable to support fire hydrants for fire protection. The new well will be constructed at the Douglas County Park.

This project will begin to bring the system into compliance, will help to reduce maintenance costs for leak repairs, and will provide a backup source of potable water. Subsequent phases of pipeline replacement must also be competed to eliminate the inadequate pressures in the system and provide for fire flow.

PROJECT STATUS

The project was bid in the fall of 2008 and the contract was awarded to Atlas Construction. The new well was drilled in December 2008 within the easement at the County Park. Favorable weather conditions through the winter months allowed Atlas to complete the water main replacement, services and appurtenances. The new main is now in service. The well house is scheduled for completion in June; however, NV Energy issues with their easement for the power lines to the new well need to be resolved before the new well can be put on line.

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