Full Breakdown
Nevada’s First Indirect Potable Reuse Facility Begins Construction
By Drooid · · How we work
Background and Need for a New Water Source
Northern Nevada’s growing population and a recent decline in snowpack have heightened concerns about reliance on the Truckee River. The U.S. Drought Monitor classifies the Truckee Meadows and Lake Tahoe area as being in a moderate drought, and the snow-water equivalent in the basin is at its second-lowest level since 1986. The Advanced Purified Water Facility will provide a locally controlled supplement that can be drawn on when the river’s flow is insufficient, during wildfire-related water-quality events, or when maintenance limits withdrawals.
Technology and Process Overview
The plant will treat roughly 2 million gallons of wastewater per day from the Reno-Stead Water Reclamation Facility. Instead of reverse-osmosis, Reno’s facility will use an ozone-biological activated carbon (O-BAC) process. Ozone and microbes break down contaminants, while granular activated carbon traps pharmaceuticals and PFAS. A final ultraviolet step inactivates viruses and parasites such as Giardia. After treatment, the water is injected into a groundwater aquifer near Stead Airport, where it remains in an “environmental buffer” before being pumped back into the municipal supply.
Expected Output and Supply Impact
The plant is projected to add about 2,000 acre-feet of water annually—enough for roughly 4,000 average households for a year. This contribution represents roughly 10 % of the water authority’s 20-year growth projection and will help meet the anticipated demand of about 1,000 acre-feet per year. The output is designed to be flexible, allowing the authority to rest other wells in the North Valleys and reduce groundwater drawdown.
Funding, Regulation, and Future Expansion
Construction of the $221 million facility is financed in part by $128 million from the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection’s State Revolving Fund. Nevada adopted indirect potable reuse regulations in 2016, providing the framework that enabled the project to receive the state’s first Category A+ permit. A federal Underground Injection Control permit, required under the Safe Drinking Water Act, is still pending. No other Nevada utility has yet applied for a similar project, though NDEP reports interest from communities outside the Las Vegas area.
Official Statements & Responses
Mayor Hillary Schieve emphasized the community responsibility to secure future water supplies. Water authority General Manager John Zimmerman described the project as a model of regional cooperation. NDEP administrator Jennifer Carr highlighted the agency’s role in establishing the regulatory pathway and providing financing.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Water is one of our community's most important resources, and we have a responsibility to make sure we're prepared for the future,” — Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve
What’s Next
Construction is slated to continue through the fall of 2029. An on-site education center will open alongside the plant to inform the public about the purification process and safety measures. After initial testing, the purified water will first be used for irrigation before full integration into the regional drinking-water system.