Ruhenstroth committee discusses water situation

The Ruhenstroth Water Planning Steering Committee gave a very impressive presentation on Feb. 29 outlining what they have learned over the past year as they have explored options for our long-term water situation.

We are in a unique position here in Ruhenstroth when you look at where our water comes from to fill our wells. Our individual wells draw water from an underground aquifer that doesn't benefit from the increased water levels in the Carson River. As long as the aquifer is replenished, our wells will continue to provide us with enough water for our daily activities. If the aquifer dries up, so do our wells. If that should happen we would need to be able to have water piped into the neighborhood. The most likely source would be the Town of Gardnerville and there would be a significant cost to run the underground pipes as well as have meters installed at each home. It is also something that would be for the entire neighborhood. In other words, it would not be possible for only a few streets in the neighborhood to opt for community water and the remaining residences to stay with individual wells. Obviously, we would need to plan ahead to implement this plan of action.

Another option they have been looking into would be to capture floodwater that flows out of the Pine Nut Mountains through Smelter Creek with the goal being to recharge the underground aquifer that supplies our wells. This could be accomplished by having a collection area that would hold water coming out of the mountains and running through the back of our neighborhood.

The water would be collected in a pool and be absorbed into the ground, replenishing the underground water source. There were many examples of park-like areas that could work nicely for our neighborhood. The important thing to remember is that we have a couple of options and it is best to be looking at those options now before our water situation reaches a critical point.

The committee has scheduled March 29 for water level measurements. Last year they mailed out surveys to each resident and have chosen several sites for long term follow up. Their plan is to measure the wells this year and about the same time each year in the future so they will be better able to determine what our true water situation is. These measurements will be very helpful in determining water levels across the entire neighborhood as well as whether there is a consistency throughout the neighborhood in water levels. All of this information will help them form a more accurate picture of our underground water situation. If you have any questions for the committee, you can contact them by mail at P.O. Box 218, Minden, NV 89423. The Web site set up by neighbor Gary Swift will have the presentation available for you to review in the near future. Please visit www.geocities.com/ruhenstrothwater for minutes of the meetings as well as some frequently asked questions and answers. If you don't have Internet access at home, the Douglas County Public Library has several computers that are free to use as long as you have a library card.

One common theme that kept surfacing throughout the presentation is the very real need for conservation. According to www.water.nv.gov, frequently asked questions, domestic wells are limited to using no more than 1,800 gallons per day. But just what does that mean? The typical top-loading washing machine uses an average of 50 gallons per load while a front-loading washing machine uses about one-third of that amount. How many loads a week does your family do? Dishwashing can use up to 60 gallons per load depending on the efficiency and the cycle chosen. A bath or shower averages between 15 and 30 gallons per five minutes. Each flush of the commode sends between four and seven gallons down the drain. Watering 1,000 square-feet of grass requires about 35,000 gallons of water per year. You can see how quickly a family could reach the 1,800 gallon per day usage.

-- To reach Gail Davis, e-mail RuhenstrothRamblings@yahoo.com or call 265-1947.