SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – This year, the South Tahoe Public Utility District celebrated 75 years of delivering safe, clean drinking water, reliable wastewater services, and essential water for firefighting. We do this to protect one of the world’s most treasured alpine lakes.
What began in the late 1940s, when local septic hauler Lester Nagy exposed businesses dumping sewage into Lake Tahoe, has grown into a nationally recognized public utility. Voters created the District in 1950, and by 1965 we had built the world’s first advanced wastewater treatment plant, drawing international attention for treating water to near-drinking standards. When environmental rules later required all treated wastewater to be exported out of the basin, the District engineered a groundbreaking system to pump recycled water over Luther Pass to support agriculture in Alpine County. In the decades that followed, the District expanded into drinking water service, purchasing private water companies to ensure the delivery of high-quality Tahoe Tap to residents and visitors alike.
In 2025, the District continued that legacy of stewardship by investing $18.6 million in water and wastewater infrastructure. To strengthen our water system, we rehabilitated four drinking water wells, began evaluating sites for a future well, installed backup power to maintain service during emergencies, and upsized 7,200 feet of waterline and installed 15 new fire hydrants in the Bijou neighborhood to improve fire flow and community safety.
On the wastewater side, we completed major improvements to keep sewage out of Lake Tahoe. This included rehabilitating the Upper Truckee Sewer Pump Station, replacing treatment plant filters, constructing a new electrical building at Fallen Leaf Lake after the original was lost to an avalanche, and installing a 1-MW solar array that will offset one-third of the treatment plant’s power use.
None of these accomplishments would be possible without the dedicated people who keep our water and sewer systems running. Our highly skilled staff work day and night to provide safe, reliable, cost-effective service, supported by the strategic leadership of our Board of Directors. As we look ahead to 2026, we remain committed to protecting Lake Tahoe and serving our community with excellence.
From all of us at the South Tahoe Public Utility District, thank you and happy holidays.
Paul Hughes, General Manager