Pipeline work could begin this month

A bid to build nearly five miles of 30-inch pipeline between Johnson Lane and Indian Hills came in $470,068 less than estimates and nearly $200,000 less than the next lowest bidder.

Douglas County staff is recommending county commissioners accept a base bid of $2.823 million to build the pipeline, plus two 4-inch fiber optic conduits and the relocation of the Heybourne Road fill station.

Douglas County's portion of the pipeline will be paid for using bonds to finance the $461,105 that is its share.

Carson City will be paying nearly 60 percent of the cost, $1.613 million. The Indian Hills General Improvement District is coming up with 23.73 percent, or $645,547, and has to build a pipeline to meet the line coming north from Johnson Lane.

According to county staff, there were five bids for the project with the highest base bid coming in at to $3.53 million.

Bids were opened on July 20.

The first phase of the pipeline project consists of laying 14,625 feet of water line from the existing 24-inch line north of Johnson Lane to the Indian Hills hookup.

Indian Hills has until April 1 to complete its portion of the pipeline, under an order from the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection.

The improvement district is required to reduce the amount of arsenic in its water to meet federal standards. Plans for a treatment plant were shelved when the potentially less expensive proposal to build the pipeline came along.

Indian Hills is planning to shut down its water treatment plant after it connects to the pipeline.

In addition to paying for the pipeline, commissioners will be discussing hiring a part-time secretary and inspector to work on the pipeline project. Manhard Consulting is providing construction support services. The county is also establishing a regional water fund to account for all the transactions involved with building and operation of the pipeline.

Under its agreement with Minden, the county will purchase water from the town wholesale and then retail it to other water systems, including its own, Indian Hills and Carson City.

Construction on the project is expected to begin this month.

The county is also lending money to a few of its water companies to cover expenses until they can receive money from the Nevada Drinking Water State Revolving Fund.

Cave Rock, and Foothill water systems are receiving loans.