The Tahoe City Public Utility District (TCPUD) has completed the West Lake Tahoe Regional Water Treatment Plant, a landmark investment designed to secure a permanent, drought-resilient water supply for communities along the lake’s West Shore.
The $30 million facility, located near Chambers Landing just north of Tahoma, replaces a temporary seasonal plant that had supported peak summer demand for nearly two decades. Now operating year-round, the new treatment plant draws water directly from Lake Tahoe, strengthening public supply reliability, enhancing fire protection, and increasing the resilience of TCPUD’s interconnected infrastructure.
“This project transforms the way TCPUD delivers water to our customers on the West Shore,” said TCPUD Board President Judy Friedman. “By transitioning to drought-resilient surface water, we are ensuring safe, dependable drinking water year-round and significantly improving water availability for firefighting to help protect our community against wildfire.”
The project included construction of an underwater pump station and intake pipeline, channeling lake water to the plant where advanced treatment processes—membrane filtration and ultraviolet disinfection—ensure high-quality drinking water. Currently capable of producing nearly one million gallons of water per day, the facility has the capacity for future expansion to serve up to 2,400 customers between Tahoma and Timberland.
Funding was secured through strategic partnerships, including $5.5 million in grants from the California Department of Water Resources, the El Dorado Water Agency, and the Placer County Water Agency, alongside a $19.7 million low-interest loan from the State Water Resources Control Board.
“The Department of Water Resources is proud to have supported the West Lake Tahoe Regional Water Treatment Plant,” said Ann Marie Ore, Program Manager with the Department of Water Resources. “This project is a powerful example of how strategic partnerships can build lasting resilience, protect public health, and deliver critical infrastructure to support a sustainably managed water supply.”
