NID Board Authorizes $7.9 Million Upgrade of Banner-Taylor Reservoir
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
GRASS VALLEY – The old covered reservoirs at the Nevada Irrigation District’s Banner-Taylor reservoir site will be replaced by a pair of modern storage tanks, under a $7.9 million construction contract awarded Wednesday (June 13) by the NID Board of Directors.
The design-build contract was awarded to Gateway Pacific/DYK/Bennett Engineering, a group that submitted the lowest among five proposals received by the district.
The new concrete treated water storage tanks – 4.6 million gallons and 5.9 million gallons – will replace two earthen reservoirs that store treated drinking water within a synthetic rubber liner made of a material known as Hypalon.
Water from NID’s adjacent Elizabeth L. George Water Treatment Plant is stored in the covered reservoirs and supplied in wide areas of Nevada County, including the nearby Brunswick Basin.
NID project engineer Doug Roderick said the Hypalon liners were installed in 1992 and are failing “at an exponential rate.” He said the liners are showing significant wear and tear, have been subject to acts of vandalism, and need continued maintenance. The covered reservoirs have been likened to large water beds.
NID studies examined water quality protection, and safety, emergency and reliability needs as well as three different levels of storage at the site; 7.6 million gallons, 9.2 million gallons and 10.5 million gallons.
The staff recommendation for 10.5 million gallons was deemed most cost-effective and adequate for a 20-year or longer period. The board voted unanimously to support the staff recommendation.
Roderick said the two tanks will be built within the existing reservoir berm and will be partially buried, limiting visual impacts to surrounding neighborhoods. The tanks will be built separately so adequate storage is preserved during construction. The site is large enough to accommodate a third tank when needed in the future, he said.
The reservoir site is located just off Banner Lava Cap Road, near Boreham Lane, about two miles southeast of Nevada City. Construction is expected to begin this summer and be completed in about 18 months.
In other business, NID directors:
• approved a funding agreement with property owners along Rattlesnake Road near Grass Valley who are seeking NID treated water service and have agreed to share in the costs of extending lines to their neighborhood. A new mainline is being planned along Wheeler Acres Cross Road and along Rattlesnake Road almost to Diamond Back Way.
• agreed to purchase new excavators for the Grass Valley and Placer County maintenance yards from Pape Machinery of Sacramento for $54, 413, including trade-ins, taxes and delivery.
• recognized three employees for 10 years of employment service to the district; Gerry Gnech, a utility worker with the Placer maintenance crew; Kenton Early, an equipment operator in Grass Valley; and Connie Petty, administrative assistant in the NID Engineering Dept.
The next regular meeting of the NID Board of Directors will be held at 9 a.m. on June 27 at the NID Business Center in Grass Valley. NID board meetings are open to the public.