South Lake Tahoe, CA (July 13, 2026) – The South Tahoe Public Utility District (District) is investing in the future reliability of the community's drinking water system by constructing two new drinking water wells this summer. The Sunset Well Replacement Project and the new Tanglewood Well Project are part of the District's long-term asset management program to ensure safe, reliable drinking water for the South Shore for decades to come.

The District currently relies on 11 active drinking water wells to provide customers with high-quality Tahoe Tap. California regulations require water systems to meet maximum daily water demand even if their largest well is unavailable. The two new wells will strengthen the District's ability to reliably serve customers during peak summer demand, emergency situations, planned maintenance, or unexpected equipment outages.

"These projects are about planning ahead," said Mark Seelos, Water Resources Manager for the South Tahoe Public Utility District. "Our existing wells have served the community for many years, but replacing aging infrastructure and adding new production capacity ensures we can continue delivering safe, reliable drinking water when our customers need it most. Investing today helps protect our water system for future generations."

The Sunset Well Replacement Project will replace an existing well drilled in 1990 that currently produces approximately 600 gallons per minute (gpm). The new well will be drilled on the same property to a depth of approximately 500 feet and is expected to produce approximately 2,000 gpm.

The Tanglewood Well Project will create an entirely new well site. Following successful test drilling completed in 2025, crews will drill a permanent production well this summer and conduct extensive pump testing to determine its final operating capacity. The new well is expected to produce between 800 and 2,000 gpm.

Construction is scheduled to begin in mid-July and continue through early November 2026. Because well drilling requires specialized equipment and uninterrupted operations, drilling and well installation activities at each site will operate continuously for approximately four weeks, including overnight hours.

"Drilling a municipal drinking water well is a complex process that requires continuous operation to safely install the well casing and complete testing," Seelos said. "We understand overnight construction can be inconvenient, and we appreciate our neighbors' patience as we complete these critical infrastructure improvements."

The District anticipates completing engineering design for the well houses, pumps, electrical systems, and pipeline connections in 2027. Construction of the above ground well facilities and integration into the water system is planned between 2028 and 2030.

The total investment is estimated at $5.5 million for the Tanglewood Well Project and $4.4 million for the Sunset Well Replacement Project.

The District also continues to closely monitor the sustainability of the groundwater aquifer. Groundwater levels are measured at 40 monitoring wells twice each year, production wells are tested annually, and a sophisticated groundwater model tracks aquifer conditions. Monitoring has shown no measurable impact on groundwater storage, and the additional pumping capacity provided by these new wells is expected to have a negligible effect on groundwater levels.

Together, the Sunset and Tanglewood wells will improve the resilience of the District's water system, increase production capacity where it is needed most, and help ensure the continued delivery of safe, high-quality Tahoe Tap for years to come.

To learn more, visit stpud.us/drinking-water-wells or attend the Public Meeting on Monday, July 20, 2026 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at 942 Tanglewood Drive, South Lake Tahoe.