By Carla O’Day
Truckee Meadows Water Authority plans to release drought reserves in September to meet waters demands for the remainder of the season. The agency said that it should roll into 2017 with more backup storage than in previous years.
Bill Hauck, TMWA senior hydrologist, addressed water supply during the utility’s board meeting Wednesday at Sparks City Hall. He said last winter’s precipitation was at normal levels but the region is still feeling effects of the four previous drier than average winters.
Hauck said Lake Tahoe is currently 4/10 of an inch above its rim, but the water level is expected to be below its rim by early September.
“The streamflow runoff forecast has unfortunately been downgraded over the last two months,” a report to TMWA board members said. “Recent projections are indicating that flow in the Truckee River will be negatively impacted earlier than previously thought as a result of the downgraded hydrological forecast. Normal river flows will be made at least through the first week of September which gets TMWA past its peak customer demand season.”
IN OTHER ACTION
Paul Miller, TMWA operations and water quality manager, gave a presentation on the area’s water quality. Results showed lead levels in water averaged less than 0.001 milligrams per liter, below the “action level” of 0.015 mg/L. Copper levels averaged 0.148 mg/L, below the action level of 1.3 mg/L.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency sets drinking water standards under the Safe Drinking Water Act. Ninety contaminants are regulated and the contaminant list is reviewed every 5 years.
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TMWA general manager Mark Foree will be evaluated annually on his interpersonal skills, relationships, leadership, innovation, communication skills and management style. He’ll be evaluated by department heads, direct reports and board members.
Foree suggested using a similar questionnaire that the city of Reno uses to evaluate its chief executives.
“That will not only help the board but it will help me,” he said.
