Drinking Water Wells
South Tahoe Public Utility District relies on 11 active drinking water wells to supply the south shore with delicious Tahoe Tap. The District’s well asset management program evaluates well condition, identifies rehabilitation needs, and helps plan for long-term reliability. This summer, the District is drilling two new wells as part of our ongoing effort to strengthen water system reliability and meet future demand.
Why are we drilling new wells?
The District is investing in two new drinking water wells to improve the reliability of our water system and ensure we can continue providing safe, reliable drinking water during peak demand, emergencies, equipment maintenance, or if another well is temporarily out of service.
California regulations require water systems to be able to meet maximum daily water demand even if the largest well is unavailable. These projects help the District meet those reliability standards while preparing for community needs.
Sunset Well
Sunset Well is an existing well that was drilled in 1990 and currently produces around 600 gallons per minute (gpm) of water. A detailed condition assessment showed that the station needs replacement. This summer, a replacement well will be drilled on the same parcel. The new well is expected to be around the same depth at 500 feet with the diameter increased from 10 inches to 16 inches. The new Sunset Well is anticipated to produce about 2,000 gpm when placed into service.
Tanglewood Well
At Tanglewood, the District is developing an entirely new well site. In 2025, the District drilled a test well to evaluate the geology, water quality, and yield throughout the aquifer. Those results were favorable, and this summer the District will drill the production well and conduct a pump test to determine the final capacity and pump size. Tanglewood is expected to produce between 800 to 2,000 gallons per minute (gpm).
Timeline
Building a new well takes several years and occurs in phases. In 2026, we are drilling and testing the wells. Construction is expected to begin mid-July 2026 and continue through early November 2026. Critical drilling and well installation activities at each site will occur continuously for approximately four weeks. Current schedules are:
- Tanglewood: Mid-July through early September, with 24-hour work from July 27 - August 24
- Sunset: Late August through early November, with 24-hour work from September 8 – October 6.
Schedules may change due to weather, drilling conditions, or other unforeseen circumstances.
The District plans to complete engineering design in 2027 for the well house, pump size, controls, electrical systems, and any needed piping upgrades. From 2028-2030, the District expects to construct the well houses and connect both wells to the water system.
Project Cost
Tanglewood Well - Phase 1 of the Tanglewood Well Project (Tanglewood Test Well) was completed in 2025 at a cost of $1.15M. In 2026, Phase 2 includes the installation, development, and testing of a permanent production well at a cost of $1.12M. Phase 3 will include design and construction of the wellhouse and integration into the District’s water system between 2028-2030 at an estimated cost of $3.25M.
Estimated total project cost for Tanglewood Well: $5.5M.
Sunset Well - Phase 1 of the Sunset Well replacement project occuring in 2026 includes installation, development, and testing of a replacement production well at a cost of $1.15M. Phase 2 will include design and construction of the wellhouse and integration into the District’s water system between 2028-2030 at an estimated cost of $3.25M.
Estimated total project cost for Sunset Well: $4.4M.
Groundwater Sustainability
The District closely monitors the groundwater aquifer to ensure long-term sustainability. We measure groundwater levels at 40 monitoring wells twice a year, test well capacity annually, and use a sophisticated groundwater model to assess aquifer health. During annual well testing, each well is pumped at capacity and the resulting aquifer drawdown is measured. Based on precipitation inputs, pumping outputs, and flows to Lake Tahoe, the District has seen no effect on aquifer storage. The additional pumping from these new wells is expected to have a negligible impact on groundwater levels.
Together, the Sunset and Tanglewood wells will help improve the District’s water system resilience, increase capacity where it is most needed, and continue to provide reliable, high-quality drinking water to the community for years to come.