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Tahoe Water Suppliers Association

waste not tahoe water suppliers association booth

The Tahoe Water Suppliers Association (TWSA) is a Lake Tahoe-based partnership of California and Nevada municipal water agencies, dedicated to providing clean and safe drinking water. Our water source is Lake Tahoe, allowing us to deliver some of the finest drinking water in the world.

TWSA Membership Tahoe water suppliers association logo

Contact Us

Phone: 775-832-1284

Executive Director
Phone: 775-832-1284
email: DrinkTahoeTap(at) IVGID.org

Mail: 1220 Sweetwater Rd, Incline Village NV 89451

Mission Statement

The mission of the Tahoe Water Suppliers Association is to develop, implement and maintain an effective watershed control program in order to satisfy recommendations in watershed sanitary surveys, advocate for the protection of Lake Tahoe as a viable source of drinking water, and to satisfy additional state and federal requirements.

Board Meetings

TWSA Board Meetings are held quarterly. View meeting dates and agendas on the TWSA Board Meetings page. 

Spill Reporting

To report a pollution spill or boat sinking, please contact the appropriate local agencies from the list below:

  • U.S. Coast Guard, Lake Tahoe Station: 530-583-4433
  • South Lake Tahoe Police Department: 530-542-6110
  • Douglas County Sheriff: 775-782-9911
  • El Dorado County Sheriff: 530-544-3464
  • Placer County Sheriff: 530-581-6330
  • Washoe County Sheriff: 775-832-4110
  • Nevada Department of Environmental Protection; Bureau of Corrective Actions: 775-687-9485
  • Outside NV: 888-331-6337

History of TWSA

Nevada members of TWSA first started working together during the state adoption of the 1986 amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) and the creation of the Surface Water Treatment Rule (SWTR). Together, the Nevada purveyors were successful in including the following language in the Nevada state code, “Alternatively, for the systems at Lake Tahoe, the suppliers of water shall demonstrate that by location of the intake structure, that a level of protection equivalent of watershed control is provided.” This began a partnership now in its third decade.

The partnership adopted the essential elements of an integrated water management approach for high‐quality water source water not requiring filtration including: frequent monitoring, watershed controls, demonstrated history devoid of waterborne disease outbreaks, adequate storage in the event of higher turbidity excursions, and flexibility and redundancy in disinfection process (AWWA). The purveyors also completed the first of three sanitary surveys and control programs (1992) and pilot studies to determine trihalomethane formation potential and ozone disinfection design criteria. As a result, the Nevada State Board of Health granted five suppliers “filtration exemptions,” while one supplier (Round Hill) implemented filtration.

The Tahoe Water Suppliers Association (TWSA), formerly Nevada Tahoe Water Suppliers Association (NTWSA) changed its name in December 2005 with the addition of the first California water purveyor, North Tahoe Public Utility District. The 1992 plan, and subsequent updates, identified potential risks to source water quality including: sanitary sewer overflows, urban run‐off, development, and hygiene practices of summer boaters and visitors. The idea of forming an agency to deal with source water protection issues was presented in 1992; however, was not implemented until completion of the 2002 ten‐year update plan.

In 2002, with encouragement from Nevada State Health officials, six purveyors from the original partnership formed an association under a multi‐party agreement to address Federal and State source water protection regulations and fulfill recommendations of previous sanitary surveys. Appointed staff members from each agency formed the TWSA board. The largest partner, IVGID, offered its Resource Conservationist as the association’s Executive Director. The agreement stipulates cost sharing of expenses incurred by IVGID on behalf of the association. Members pay an annual fee, in part proportional to the size of their service areas and in part, in equal amounts representing common administrative costs.

Pollution Prevention Projects

Drink Tahoe Tap ® Campaigns three people wearing drink tahoe tap shirts at booth

Tap water is better than bottled water when it comes to people’s health, wallets, and the environment.  Municipal water systems are much more rigorously tested and monitored than the bottled water industry. Tahoe Tap is simply the best. Sourced from rain and snowmelt, then minimally treated using state-of the-art disinfection processes, Tahoe Water Suppliers Association (TWSA) water purveyors deliver this award-winning drinking water to your home or business, 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, for less than a penny per gallon.  Whether you are a local or someone visiting our region, we urge you to kick the bottled water habit and Drink Tahoe Tap® instead. Visit the Drink Tahoe Tap news page for programs and resources.

Aquatic Invasive Species

TWSA is a stakeholder with multiple workgroups engaged in pollution prevention projects in the Tahoe Basin; spanning issues from aquatic invasive species (AIS) to microplastics pollution. TWSA first became involved in Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) issues in 2007 as the Lake Tahoe Watercraft Inspection Program was first being established. Our work focused then, and continues to date, on public education of the threat posed to water quality and water supply by the potential introduction of AIS such as zebra or quagga mussels into Lake Tahoe. TWSA has maintained a presence in the working groups bringing innovative ideas and resources – promoting non-chemical methods (Ultra-violet light boat, bubble curtains/aeration, rubber bottom barriers, diver assisted suction) for AIS management.   TWSA serves as a group partner with the Nearshore Aquatic Invasive Weeds Working Group (NAIIWG) since 2011, and most recently, the Tahoe Keys Property Owners Association Control Methods Test.

  • The Tahoe Keys has an active weeds management  project – for details visit tahoekeysweeds.org
  • TWSA work related to AIS: coming soon…

Microplastics in Drinking Water

The TWSA is on the forefront of policy and  research regarding micro plastics contamination in drinking water.  We are working  with local researchers, the Tahoe Science Council, the California Water Board and others,  as active participants in understanding this emerging threat – providing feedback and resources.  The TWSA member have conducted intake monitoring and Tahoe Tap’s water quality remains excellent.

Water Conservation

Water conservation is easy to do and may only require a small change in some of your daily habits. You can save money, energy, the environment, and of course water! Visit the Water Conservation page for helpful tips and resources.

TWSA Resources and Reports

Documents

TWSA /USACE

Source Water Protection

 

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