CTMRD Program
Contaminant Boundary 2011 Changes
6/14/11 UPDATE: Please note that the changes described below have been approved by the Board of County Commissioners (BCC). The BCC held the first reading of the proposed changes on May 10, 2011. The second reading and adoption occurred on June 14, 2011.
In spring 2011, the Washoe County Commission will hold annually scheduled public hearings on the Central Truckee Meadows Remediation District (CTMRD) boundaries and fees. Prior to those hearings, CTMRD program staff will be attending Citizen and Neighborhood Advisory Boards to provide information about the program and to solicit public comment on proposed changes to the CTMRD contaminant boundary and the effect those changes will have on the associated fees. The information below is intended to supplement the community meetings and answer some frequently asked questions about the CTMRD program and the proposed changes.
Click here to view a map of the proposed changes.
What is PCE?
PCE (also known as Tetrachloroethene, Perc and Perchloroethylene) is a solvent commonly used in dry cleaning, auto repair, and industrial operations. It is also found in some consumer products. PCE was used extensively from the 1940s through the 1980s. It is currently used to a lesser extent, and more closely regulated than in the past. PCE has associated potential human health risks, including being identified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as a probable human carcinogen.
What is the CTMRD program and why was it created?
In 1987, a drinking water standard for PCE was proposed by US EPA and PCE was detected in five municipal water supply wells in the Truckee Meadows. Initial investigations determined that PCE contamination in the central Truckee Meadows (CTM) groundwater system extended over 16 square miles, and that this contamination threatened other wells. These affected and potentially affected wells are important components of the local water supply system, where groundwater can be the sole water source when the
The CTMRD program was created by State statute and County ordinance in 1995 in order to:
- Provide water that meets PCE drinking water standards to customers served by purveyors with wells in the impacted area (i.e. inside the contaminant boundary);
- Provide liability relief for innocent property owners; and
- Prevent the central Truckee Meadows from becoming a federal Superfund site.
Given the areal extent of the problem, the large volume of contaminated groundwater, and the large number of potential PCE sources; the mitigation of the PCE problem will take a long time. However, the Washoe County Department of Water Resources, the cities of Reno and Sparks, the Truckee Meadows Water Authority, the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection, and the Washoe County Health District are working together to identify, manage, and mitigate PCE-related problems. It is important to note that this type of community-based solution is the only one of its kind in
How is the CTMRD program funded and the fee assessed?
All those benefiting from the presence of the CTMRD program are required by law to pay a Remediation Fee. A Remediation Fee is imposed on parcels located served by water purveyors with wells in the affected area. This fee funds the benefit of receiving water that meets the drinking water standard for PCE and, for parcels located within the contaminant boundary (that part of the central Truckee Meadows where PCE contamination is known or likely to be present), it provides an added benefit of relief from liability. The Remediation Fee is assigned based on water usage at a given parcel during the previous calendar year. Remediation Fees are equitably allocated among parcels based on the benefits received as a function of location (inside or outside the contaminant boundary) and, for parcels inside the contaminant boundary, as a function of residential or non-residential zoning.
To date, remediation fees have been used for the installation, operation and maintenance of the PCE treatment facilities installed on impacted municipal water supply wells, the development and implementation of a remediation management plan, and community outreach and education.
Why is there a proposal to change the CTMRD contaminant boundary?
Since the contaminant boundary was initially created in 2001, significant assessment of the PCE problem has taken place. Results have shown that, overall, the PCE contamination in the CTM is no longer as extensive as originally defined in 2001. Therefore, it is being proposed that the contaminant boundary be adjusted to reflect the current extent of the contaminated area. This is particularly important because parcels located within the contaminant boundary pay a higher remediation fee for the additional benefit of liability protection. For parcels that no longer have PCE contamination beneath them, liability protection is not necessary and the fee will be reduced to cover only the benefit of receiving PCE-free water. Where more recent data have identified contamination not recognized in 2001, parcels in those three areas would now be included within the contaminant boundary.
How will this affect me?
If the proposed boundary changes are approved, the remediation fees will be redistributed. This would result in some parcels paying less and some paying more. With the proposed boundary changes, the average parcel inside the service area boundary (but outside the contaminant boundary) would pay an estimated annual fee of $17.69. This compares to an average annual fee (2009) of $15.46 per year. Parcels within the contaminant boundary would pay an estimated average of $27.65 (residential) and $226.74 (non-residential). This compares to average fee (2009) of $24.68 (residential) and $220.93 (non-residential).
Click here to view a map of the proposed changes.
Contact Us
CTMRD program staff is interested in hearing your comments and answering any questions you may have about the CTMRD program or the proposed boundary changes. If you would like to submit comments or have further questions, please feel free to contact Chris Benedict, Remediation District Program Manager at (775) 954-4642 (cbenedict@washoecounty.us), or Kelly Mullin, Water Management Planner at (775) 954-4687 (kmullin@washoecounty.us).
Click here to view a PDF of the information provided above.