Supplies
The Truckee Meadows Water Authority obtains its water supply from surface water and groundwater. Surface water is treated at Chalk Bluff and Glendale treatment plants before distribution into the system, and the groundwater is pumped from wells throughout the service territory as shown in the map to the right.
Surface Water
Surface water sources and storage provide between 85 percent of the TMWA water supply. The surface storage areas are:
- Lake Tahoe:
744,600 acre feet of storage - Boca Reservoir:
40,800 acre feet of storage - Independence Lake:
17,500 acre feet of storage - Donner Lake:
9,500 acre feet of storage - Additional storage of up to 14,000 acre feet is provided under a 25-year federal contract with the Bureau of Reclamation for the storage of drought supplies in both Stampede and Boca reservoirs.
- The operation of the river and use of river water by TMWA is governed by the Negotiated Settlement, a brief summary of which can be found by clicking on link above.
Groundwater
Groundwater sources and storage provide between 15 percent of the TMWA water supply. TMWA owns 33 production wells that have a capacity of 63 million gallons per day. The wells are used for summer peak times and provide off-river reliability. In winter months, the wells are used to recharge treated water.
