(Posted May 8, 2008) Flume #14 on the Highland Canal System, one of the facilities that supplies Truckee River source water to the Chalk Bluff Water Treatment Plant in northwest Reno, was damaged in the 4.7 earthquake that occurred on April 26. In an emergency meeting held May 7, TMWA's Board of Directors took action to approve funding needed to restore the source water supply to Chalk Bluff Water Treatment Plant.
The Board approved a $2,300,000 budget augmentation for this year (through June 30) to cover the following expenses:
- $210,000 in increased power costs to run all nine existing Orr Ditch pumps 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
- $1,300,000 to implement the temporary pumping solution in the Orr Ditch upstream from the existing pump station.
- $790,000 to stabilize the slope where the flume collapsed and begin the analysis for the possible repair of this gravity feed.
In addition, the Board authorized TMWA to move the Mogul Bypass capital project, which we have been planning for years and which is at 30% design, to next year's capital budget.
To summarize the current water supply situation in millions of gallons per day (mgd):
- Chalk Bluff treatment plant can supply 60 mgd (normally 83 mgd)
- Glendale treatment plant can supply 12.5 mgd (normally 25 mgd -- two brand new pumps which were recently installed to increase our reliability from Glendale have failed and are being returned to the manufacturer to fix under warranty)
- Wells can supply 45 mgd
Thus, we can currently supply 117.5 mgd. Current demands are roughly 95 mgd. Peak demands on the hottest days of this summer are predicted to be 140 to 145 mgd. The 10 temporary pumps will be in service in one to two weeks, giving us an additional 35 mgd into Chalk Bluff and increasing our total supply to 152.5 mgd. Thus, by the time our summer demands increase we should have enough water to meet customer needs. However, in the meantime we ask all of our customers to please use water responsibly so that we can continue to meet everyone's water needs prior to getting the temporary solution in place. Do you Know Your Days?
Photos of Damage:
Click thumbnails to view larger images
View full Board Report here (PDF)
5/8/08 Money OK'd to repair flume (PDF)
Reno Gazette-Journal
Status Report: Chalk Bluff Flume (PDF, April 26, 2008)
Disaster Preparedness: How to Shut Off Water Supply (PDF)
Washoe County Emergency Management
Red Cross, Northern Nevada Chapter
