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The South Tahoe Public Utility District, a public agency established on September 28, 1950, supplies drinking water and provides sewage collection, treatment, and export to protect Tahoe's delicate ecosystem. Managing this complex operation requires an uncommon environmental sensitivity.
A Short History of the District
From 1951 until 1960 the District's facilities consisted of essentially two septic tanks. In 1960 a 2.5 million gallon per day (MGD) activated sludge plant was constructed.
In 1963 a study of the possible treatment methods to treat and dispose of sewage was undertaken by the Corvallis, OR. engineering firm of CH2M Hill under the direction of Russell Culp. At the time of this study treated wastewater was land applied near the plant. Upon passage of the Porter-Cologne Act, all wastewater was required to be treated and exported from the Tahoe Basin. Small scale tests were begun to determine if a treatment process that had never been applied to municipal wastewater could provide a treated water quality adequate to support a recreational reservoir in Alpine county. The tests were successful and the full scale, 2.5 MGD tertiary water reclamation plant was placed into service in 1965.
During this period of operation the District hosted many international visitors who came to observe and learn state-of-the-art wastewater reclamation. The technology Mr. Culp created at STPUD has been used throughout the world.
The plant was expanded to 7.5 MGD and the 27 mile export line placed into service in 1968.
The "Head Start" program in 1980 included emergency wet weather pumping improvements. In 1985 "Contract 1" began the modifications to advanced secondary operation. In 1989 the plant was expanded to 7.7 MGD, the Harvey Place Dam was completed and the advanced secondary operation started. No major plant expansions have occurred since 1989.
General Manager:
Richard Solbrig
Board of Directors
| Seat # 1 |
Chris Cefalu |
| Seat # 2 |
James R. Jones |
| Seat # 3 |
Mary Lou Mosbacher |
| Seat # 4 |
Dale Rise |
| Seat # 5 |
Eric W. Schafer |
Assistant General Manager:
Paul Sciuto
Chief Financial Officer:
Paul Hughes
South Tahoe Public Utility District board meetings are open to the public and are held at 2:00 p.m. the first and third Thursday of each month at the District office, located at 1275 Meadow Crest Drive, South Lake Tahoe.
Water System:
- Over 14,000 residential water connections
- 660 commercial and government sites
- 14 active wells
Collection System:
- 330 miles of sewer lines
- 42 lift stations
- 17,000 connections
Treatment Plant:
- 7.7 MGD capacity
- 1.8 billion gallons treated annually
- Average 4.0 MGD flow
Export System/Alpine County
- A $80 Million Dollar Facility
- 10.4 miles of A-line
- Luther Pass Pump Station
- 4.3 miles B-line (1,240 vertical feet)
- 10.7 miles C-line
- Harvey Place Reservoir
- Indian Creek Reservoir
- Land Application System
- Diamond Valley Ranch
Jurisdiction of STPUD
Service Area
- Portions of El Dorado County within Tahoe Basin
- Hwy 89 North to Cascade Lake
- Hwy 89 South to Luther Pass
- Hwy 50 East to Nevada state line
- Hwy 50 West to Echo Lake
Funding Sources
- User Charges
- Water/Sewer billings
- Connection fees
- Property Tax Receipts
- El Dorado County Water Agency Funding
- Other Income
- Grant monies (EPA and FEMA)
- FEMA reimbursements
- Interest Income
Helping Hands Outreach
What is it?
Emergency assistance program to customers who need help in paying their water and/or sewer bill but are ineligible for, or have exhausted, all other available financial assistance sources.
Program Success
- Over $ 40,000 in assistance
- Totally voluntary program
- No administrative overhead - 100% to recipients
District Digest
Recent District Awards
1993 CWEA WWTP of the Year
1994 US EPA WWTP of the Year
1998 CWEA Collection System of the Year
1999 CWEA Collection System of the Year
2000 CWEA WWTP of the Year
2001 US EPA WWTP of the Year
2001 CWEA Wastewater Treatment Plant of the Year, Small Plan Category
2002 TRPA Best in the Basin Winning Project for "A" Line Horizontal Drill
2003 George Burke Jr. Safety Award (National)
2003 CWEA Plant Safety Award (California)
2004 CWEA Safety Award (small plant category)
2004 Special District Association Innovation in Government Honorable Mention
for the District's Grant Program collaborations with Alpine County (09/04)
2004 CWEA Burke Safety Award (small plant category, CA)
2004 CWEA Sierra Section, Collection system of the Year (medium plant category, CA)
2005 California Society of Municipal Finance Officers, Outstanding Financial Report
2005 CWEA Sierra Section, Regional Collection System of the Year
2005 Distinguished Champion of the Disabled, Tahoe Area Coordinating Council for the Disabled
2005 CSMFO Excellence in Public Communication Budgeting
2006 The GFOA Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting
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