Pipeline plan goes to Minden, county

A proposal to build a pipeline between Minden and Carson City will cost the town an estimated $24 million in water improvements.

According to a study by Manhard Consulting, the town has the capacity to produce 9,100 gallons of water per minute, but will need to eventually produce 12,000 gallons per minute to feed the pipeline north.

In a memo to Manhard from Resource Concepts written by engineer Tim Russell, improvements in the town include upgrades to the water mains running from the town's wells to the pipeline, at least five new wells for the second phase of the project, redrilling and increasing production from the town's current wells, construction of a 2.5 million gallon water tank with room for a second tank and upgrades to the town's booster station.

Town Board member Bob Hadfield told members of the Indian Hills General Improvement District that the town intends to pay for the improvements by selling some of its water rights.

Hadfield explained that putting the town's water rights to use is a means to preserve their ownership.

Town Board members are scheduled to discuss Manhard's analysis of the north county water system at their 6 p.m. meeting today in the CVIC Hall.

Douglas County commissioners will get a look at the analysis at their meeting 1 p.m. Thursday in the Douglas County Administrative Building, 1616 Eighth St., in Minden.

While Minden's half of the project is just to provide the water, the analysis looks at the costs of building the pipeline north to Carson City.

The pipeline would provide water to Indian Hills, the northern county developments, and Carson City.

In the case of Indian Hills, it would solve the general improvement district's arsenic issues. Carson City would receive similar benefits.

The pipeline would also link the county's water system in Genoa and Jacks Valley.