Collaborative One Water project advancing water resilience in Nevada

In a move to combat increasing water scarcity concerns in Nevada exacerbated by a changing climate and rapid development, the Truckee Meadows Water Authority (TMWA) and the City of Reno have unveiled the American Flat project, the state’s first-ever indirect potable reuse facility.

The project will address a range of regional issues by taking a holistic, One Water approach to transforming reclaimed water into ultra-pure standards for groundwater recharge. (Pictured right, image of the planned indirect reuse facility in Nevada.)

“It will help address climate change impacts, maximize efficiency of water rights uses in the system, and provide an effluent disposal option to decrease environmental discharges to a closed basin playa lake prone to flooding,” said Kara Steeland, senior hydrologist and watershed coordinator at TMWA. 

The new facility will incorporate ozone and biological activated carbon filtration, which were specified to produce purified water that meets or exceeds drinking water standards. Compared to other treatment methods considered for the facility, the design will provide significant savings in capital and operating costs and lower energy requirements and treatment chemical consumption.

“In 2008, Reno began investigating the technical feasibility of advanced purified water treatment processes that would be suitable to Nevada’s economy, geographic location and environment,” said Dr. Lydia Teel, TMWA’s emerging resources program administrator. “The piloting efforts proved the technologies were effective and robust, opening the door for the full-scale facility at American Flat.”

Regional collaboration makes project reality

The project’s success builds on a strong collaborative foundation laid by OneWater Nevada, a regional partnership between TMWA and the City of Reno focused on integrated water management. 

“Approvals for joint project funding were made in 2022 by TMWA and Reno,” said Steeland. “Reno will provide treated effluent to TMWA, which will then purify the water prior to groundwater augmentation. This joint venture has culminated after many years of collaboration and working together under OneWater Nevada.”

With joint funding secured in 2022, the project is advancing swiftly. Design, led by TMWA, Reno, AECOM, and Record Steel and Construction, is on track for completion in early 2025.

Regulatory approval processes are set to commence in late 2024, supported by extensive research from the University of Nevada, Reno. This collaboration aims to ensure the optimal operation and maintenance of the $220 million facility.

The project has received substantial funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, highlighting the importance of federal investment in supporting water resilience and innovative water management solutions across the country.

“As many utilities are dealing with increased costs for maintenance and operations, it can be challenging to fund new and novel technologies and projects,” Teel said. 

“BIL funding is critical to helping utilities take proactive steps to increase water resiliency and sustainability through One Water initiatives and other innovative projects,” she added. “Federal funding also offers critical validation for an approach to water resource management that is new and sometimes misunderstood by community members not familiar with the idea of potable reuse.”