TMWA is dedicated to providing reliable service and delivering high-quality drinking water to more than 450,000 residents in the Reno-Sparks area. In accordance with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Consumer Confidence Rule, the 2024 Annual Water Quality Report is now available. Based on data collected in 2023, this report informs you about your drinking water quality and how it compares to drinking water standards established by the EPA. The full report is available at quality.tmwa.com.
If you would like a printed copy mailed to you, please call Water Quality & Environmental Permit Manager Kelli Burgess at (775) 834-8117 or email her at: kburgess@tmwa.com.
Commitment to process excellence
Inside TMWA’s treatment plants, our highly trained and certified operators monitor and verify water quality 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The established processes at Chalk Bluff Water Treatment Plant consistently earn national recognition for operational excellence.
Consistency through rigorous testing
TMWA’s chemists and microbiologists ensure state and federal standards are met throughout our distribution system. TMWA’s Water Quality Department has also earned EPA-recognized credentials to test for giardia and cryptosporidium, demonstrating a level of expertise that is validated by proficiency testing and independent audit.
Clarity through transparent results
More than 1,000 samples are collected and tested monthly from 27 areas across TMWA’s service territory. To see results for your neighborhood, visit our water quality lookup map at tmwa.com/lookup.
Considerations beyond surface water
Although the Truckee River provides approximately 80-85% of the water TMWA delivers, that only amounts to about 3% of the river’s total volume in a typical year. However, when peak season demands it, TMWA supplements surface water with groundwater. TMWA’s diverse water resource portfolio includes 90 wells located throughout the distribution system to help meet peak season demands. Also, six reservoirs hold impressive levels of drought reserves. See our Drought Reserves Tracker at reserves.smartaboutwater.com for real-time information.
Award-winning treatment
TMWA has earned the prestigious “Presidents Award” in operational excellence for multiple years, which involves an arduous process of testing and documenting our treatment protocols. This honor was awarded by the Partnership for Safe Water, which is a consortium that includes the American Water Works Association, the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies, the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators, the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the National Association of Water Companies, and the Water Research Foundation.
PPM, PPB—how much is that?
When reading the Water Quality Report customers will see ppb (parts per billion) and ppm (parts per million) used to measure the presence of each EPA-regulated contaminant. A way to visualize one part per billion (ppb) in water is to think of it as one drop in one billion drops of water or about one drop of water in a swimming pool. One part per million is about one cup of water in a swimming pool. (source: cfpub.epa.gov)