Maybe permit moratorium isn’t really about water

In response to the article in the Oct. 7 Record-Courier by Kurt Hildebrand, regarding Commissioner Walt Nowosad’s comments made at the Sept. 16 commissioners meeting for a possible moratorium of building permits to reduce water usage and thus reduce growth.

I hope the public is aware that Douglas County, under the commissioners’ control, purchases water from the Town of Minden, purchasing up to 1 million gallons of water per day. Douglas County then sells the water to Douglas County Utilities, Indian Hills General Improvement District and Carson City. Indian Hills mixes this water with their well water to reduce their well water contaminates to meet the federal government guidelines. That is correct, 1 million gallons per day is purchased from the Town of Minden.

If the commissioners were truly concerned about water usage and the aquifer system regeneration in Douglas County, then maybe the commissioners need to examine things they currently control. This agreement with Carson City is reviewed annually and if the main concern is reducing the use of water being pumped from the underground aquifer in the Valley, then they need to re-evaluate this agreement.

According to the Town of Minden, even with this high volume of pumping and selling water to Douglas County, the aquifer below Minden continues to regenerate to capacity each year. This has occurred even during the recent years of lower snowpack.

My concern is Nowosad is using his concerns of water usage for his real agenda of stopping growth within the Valley. Most of the commissioners were not here when construction was completely stalled prior to 2007 and the Valley had a downturn in the economy. It was a setback for the construction workers and related businesses in Douglas County with the high unemployment created in the construction industry. People lost homes and they were not able to spend money in the Valley. Many people had to move to other areas to find jobs. In 2007, as a result of containing growth, a 2 percent building quota was put into effect. Construction has never reached the 2 percent since this enactment. One problem is that the unused quota carries over into the succeeding years. Maybe this should be looked at and adjusted so if the quota isn’t used each year, those unused permits be retired. Isn’t this really the commissioners’ responsibility especially if growth is a concern?

But back to my real concern, if the county commissioners were truly concerned about the use of water, then they have the ability to adjust the agreement with Carson City annually. So, I suggest before any vote is taken on a temporary suspension of building permits that could stagnate the construction industry, clear minds need to look at the potential impact this would have on the construction industry in the county. It is not only the construction workers but architects and support workers, real estate industry, interior designs, floor coverings, roofing industry, cabinet manufacturing, plumbers, heating and air conditioning, landscape employees, and many other support trades. Also, the downstream impact on other Valley businesses such as restaurants, movie theatres, small businesses as well as the box stores, and etc. In my opinion, it is unfortunate the appearance of personal agendas can impact Douglas County’s future. Some of the commissioners who have voiced concerns overgrowth in the Valley did not live here in the downturn around 2007. Some commissioners have come from California and purchased homes. I guess it’s a “I got mine” mindset.

A point regarding the depth of wells in the Valley. Residential and domestic wells have to be below 100 feet to use for drinking water. My well was drilled 20 years ago and approximately 180 feet in depth even though my water table varies from 6 to 15 feet year after year. So, an average depth of 260 feet is not that abnormal. I have been told by two well companies that the water table on Johnson Lane has gone down ever since Douglas County started pumping water and selling it to Carson City.

I hope the commissioners do not enact a building moratorium. If they do, will the county include Lake Tahoe residents? Tahoe does not have a domestic water issue even though the lake fluctuates seasonally. The level of Lake Tahoe is governed by the federal water master. So, will Lake Tahoe be included or excluded? Would the issuances of all permits be halted even ones waiting approval in the building department? Would buildings such as garages be excluded if they don’t have any water utility?

I am not for unlimited growth, but for controlled growth. Wake up Douglas County residents and remember these agendas in the next election.

Robert Neamy is a 19-year resident of Douglas County