PCE Map and Action Requests 9.13.18[7W
[7W
[7W
[7W
[7W
[7W
[7W
[7W
[7W
[7W
¦
Bayview Well (40%)
Al Tahoe Well (10%)
Paloma Well (0.2%)
Sunset Well (7%)
Map Created 9/4/2018
0 2,000 4,0001,000 Feet
Wells Shown Accounted for 72% of South Tahoe's Public Water Supply for Water Year 2017
Lake Tahoe
South Lake Tahoe PCE Groundwater Contamination
Known PCE Ground WaterContamination Extent
TK1 Well (3%)
TK2 Well (6%)
LB4 Well(0% due to PCE)
LB1 Well (3%)
TK3 Well (3%)
LB2 & LB5 Well(0% due to PCE)
Well Ownership
[7W South Tahoe Public Utility District Well
[7W Lukins Brothers Water Company Well
[7W Tahoe Keys Water Company Well
South Lake Tahoe PCE Groundwater Contamination
ISSUE:
• 72% of the water supply in South Lake Tahoe is under threat from PCE contamination
• Immediate steps are necessary to protect South Lake Tahoe’s drinking water supply
• The community of South Lake Tahoe should not bear the cost to clean up the groundwater contamination
caused by the polluters. Simply consolidating the three water companies does not solve the PCE
contamination issue.
REQUEST:
1. The water suppliers of South Lake Tahoe request from Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board a
written commitment of resources with a timeline to accomplish the needs and actions identified below
2. Funding assistance that does not require matching funds from the local community
Listed below are immediate and interim actions that must be taken to address the PCE contamination. Please
note that these items are not intended to, and do not represent the full extent of the impact of the ongoing
PCE contamination and the resulting harm to South Lake Tahoe’s water supply. In addition, these measures
are not listed in order of priority, but with the understanding that limited funds might be available to address
the PCE contamination in the South Lake Tahoe region. These measures do not represent a comprehensive list
of South Lake Tahoe water suppliers’ damages for past and current contamination and this list could change
depending on the current state of contamination affecting the community’s water supply.
IMMEDIATE PLANNING NEEDS:
1. Fund multi-agency Emergency Response Plan ~$50,000
2. Multi-agency water system modeling to identify system deficiencies, including waterline improvements for
adequate emergency supply ~$100,000
3. Approve Lukins Brothers Water Company (LBWC) application to install granular activated carbon (GAC)
treatment for LBWC 5 well to restore 750 gpm of lost water supply $1,7500,000
4. Well siting plan for a replacement well for Tahoe Keys Water Company (TKWC) ~$120,000
5. Approve LBWC’s application for Source Replacement Feasibility Study $1,500,000
6. Replacement water costs for TKWC and LBWC when forced to purchase wholesale water from South
Tahoe Public Utility District (STPUD).
IMMEDIATE ACTIONS:
1. TKWC 1 well piping modification to be able to hook-up to a portable GAC unit for when the PCE
contamination exceeds the MCL ~$120,000
2. Well destruction for LBWC 2 well and LBWC 4 well to remove possible contaminant pathways ~$100,000
3. Site, permit, design and construct 3 sentinel wells to monitor movement of PCE contamination toward
existing public water sources ~$100,000 per well
4. Zone testing for TKWC 2 well to determine the extent of contamination at differing elevations at the well
~$75,000
5. Test hole for possible replacement water supply well at Colorado Court ~$150,000
INTERIM ACTIONS:
1. Conduct long term pilot test using existing shallow extraction wells to remove PCE from groundwater
2. Water line improvements to STPUD main distribution system to be able to provide adequate emergency
water supply
3. Provide replacement water sources including well head treatment and new wells for LBWC and TKWC to
replace water supply already lost to PCE contamination
LONG TERM ACTIONS:
1. Operational and maintenance costs for PCE treatment facilities
South Lake Tahoe PCE Groundwater Contamination
BACKGROUND:
• South Lake Tahoe water suppliers (South Tahoe Public Utility District, Lukins Brothers Water
Company, and Tahoe Keys Water Company) rely wholly on groundwater.
• In 1989, PCE was discovered in groundwater. PCE is a manmade chemical used from the 1960s to
1980s as a solvent for dry cleaning clothes and degreasing metal. Federal and State agencies listed
PCE as a carcinogen and toxic pollutant in 1980s.
• The PCE plume continues to grow from its original location at a dry-cleaning business located at the
intersection of Highways 50 and 89. As of March 2018, groundwater monitoring documented the
plume at approximately 400 acres.
• In the decades since PCE was discovered, the plume has contaminated 7 wells. STPUD and TKWC
have installed treatment systems. LBWC stopped using impacted wells and is temporarily
supplementing the lost capacity with water purchased from STPUD. LBWC is in the process of
installing a treatment facility at one of its impacted well sites.
• The impact of the plume poses a serious human health threat. Rate payers have already paid to
study, monitor, and mitigate some of the contamination.
• The financial burden of studying, monitoring, and cleaning up the pollution should fall on the
polluters, not the community of South Lake Tahoe.
• Holding the polluters accountable is important, but must be done in parallel with protecting South
Lake Tahoe’s community water supply from further contamination.
• For more info on South Lake Tahoe’s groundwater go to www.stpud.us/groundwater
Lukins Brothers Water Company, Inc.
Jennifer Lukins
530-541-2606 | jennifer@lukinswater.com
South Tahoe Public Utility District
Shannon Cotulla, Assistant General Manager
530-543-6206 | scotulla@stpud.dst.ca.us
Tahoe Keys Water Company
Rick Robillard, Manager
530-542-6451 | rrobillard@tahoekeyspoa.org
Tahoe Keys Property Owners Association
Kirk Wooldridge, General Manager
530-542-6444 x224 | Kwooldridge@tahoekeyspoa.org