A sustainable water supply is a vital component of quality of life in the Truckee Meadows. Meeting community demand requires a long-term outlook for not only water resource management but also initiatives to ensure the Truckee River watershed is healthy and thriving in perpetuity.

The region’s primary drinking water utility is Truckee Meadows Water Authority (TMWA), a community-based water utility formed through a joint-powers agreement between the City of Reno, City of Sparks and Washoe County. TMWA’s water supply portfolio is a mix of surface water and groundwater that serves over 440,000 residents. Groundwater provides approximately 15-20% of supply from regional aquifers. Surface water is conveyed by the Truckee River, which provides 80-85% of the water TMWA produces but amounts to approximately 3-9% of total river flow. Upstream drought reserves are held in six reservoirs and are held primarily for use during drought. Detailed storage information can be found on TMWA’s upstream reserves tracker.

 Water demand and conservation outcomes can best be understood by viewing production and consumption data in context of total population (see graphs below). One of the most impactful reductions in demand was due to the conversion from a flat rate to a metered rate billing system.  

Smaller residential lots and drought-friendly landscaping have also factored into the ability to serve more people with less water, as outdoor irrigation in the summer can increase residential consumption significantly. Of note, summertime conservation with Assigned Day Watering has been in effect since the mid-1980s. This program helps distribute demand across the system during the summer.

For more information about the quality of our region's drinking water, visit www.tmwa.com.

In community water utilities across the United States, raw water sources must be tested and processed to ensure water is safe to drink. The EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Act sets these parameters and defines the term "contaminant" as being anything in the water other than water molecules.

All drinking water may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminant. The EPA sets legal threshold limits on more than 90 contaminants for drinking water systems to protect human health. Each year (by July 1), the EPA requires community water systems to release a Consumer Confidence Report to its customers, which is also known as an annual drinking water quality report.

The following subset of data focuses on drinking water quality and is sourced from Truckee Meadows Water Authority’s (TMWA) Annual Water Quality Reports. To view a full set of testing results, go to TMWA’s most current Water Quality Report. Water quality data is also available for specific neighborhoods. TMWA's Water Quality Department is available to get additional context to these findings at 775-834-8118.