April 22, 2020

To ensure reliable operations during public safety power shutoffs, the Nevada Irrigation District (NID) Board of Directors has authorized the purchase of two back-up generators. The Board took action during an April 22 videoconference with President Ricki Heck, Vice President Chris Bierwagen, and Directors Scott Miller, Nick Wilcox and Laura Peters present.

Directors authorized the purchase of the two portable generators to ensure the District’s ability to provide reliable, high-quality water during Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS events). The PSPS events can be activated by investor-owned utilities (ie. Pacific Gas & Electric) during hazardous wildfire conditions in efforts to reduce the risk of wildfires caused by electric transmission and distribution networks.

During a PSPS event, when transmission and distribution of power is de-energized, NID relies on back-up generators for continuous operation of its systems. Electricity is required for system components, including treatment plants, pump stations, hydroelectric plants, intake structures, spillway gates and administrative offices. 

In other meeting matters, the General Manager reported District water storage is 218,350 acre-feet, which is 81 percent of maximum capacity and 89 percent of a seven-year average for the water year. Precipitation (as measured at Bowman Lake) is 69 percent of average at 42.78 inches.

Water conservation: NID customers have reduced their drinking water use by 3 percent compared to 2013, which started the most severe drought in modern times. That reflects less local conservation than in the recent past, when customers have averaged about an 11 percent reduction each month over 2013 use. A falloff in water conservation is likely due to widespread shelter-in-place during the COVID-19 pandemic, which means customers are spending more time in their homes and using more water to wash hands and flush toilets.

The next regular meeting of the NID Board of Directors will be held at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, May 13, 2020 via videoconference. NID Board meetings are open to the public.

Note on videoconferencing: The video conference format allows the Board to meet, respect social distancing in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, while also allowing the public to participate and provide public comment. Today’s meeting will also be posted on YouTube.