Ranchos prepares for $14 million waterline project

A $14 million waterline replacement project is scheduled to begin in the Gardnerville Ranchos early in 2022.

Work on replacing about 22,000 feet of water line will be replaced over the summer at part of the first phase, according to the Gardnerville Ranchos General Improvement District.

Another 60,000 feet of pipeline will be replaced in future phases.

Nearly 300 residents will be affected by the replacement along Long Valley, Rancho and Leonard roads, Tillman Lane south of Kimmerling, part of Victoria Drive and Carmel, Rose and Victoria ways.

The $14 million price tag will be paid from bonds that expire in 2024 and 2025, according to the district.

The district, which has the lowest water rates in the Carson River watershed, will borrow $5 million to start the first phase. There’s a possibility the district will eventually have to borrow $5 million.

“The need for replacing the water mains fomes from the district crews having to address an average 20 water main breaks per year,” Board member Jim McKalip said. “With crews being called away from their regular duties, the inconvenience is considerable. Leaks often require customers to boil water for days awaiting test results that show the water was not compromised due to the depressurization of the lines during repair.”

More projects are being planned to build a new facility to upgrade the Long Valley Booster Station and provide an intertie with the Gardnerville Water Co.

All of the projects were identified in the 2014 Water Master Plan prepared by Lumos & Associates.

Lumos is also overseeing the design of the project. Q&D Construction will be doing the work.

The Gardnerville Ranchos General Improvement District is the largest single community in Douglas County and is governed by an elected board. The district board meets the first Wednesday of each month.

For more information, visit www.grgid.com