Sorensen’s Resort in Hope Valley is now tapping into South Tahoe Public Utility District’s sewer pipeline in Alpine County.

This was a requirement of the Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board because the resort’s onsite system had reached capacity.

The wastewater is treated through a subsurface percolation system. It will then be pumped into South Tahoe PUD’s line to be carried down into the Indian Reservoir area. The effluent must meet the same standards STPUD has for wastewater it treats in the basin.

“Sorensen’s will continue to have to demonstrate compliance through monthly testing of their effluent. If they fail, they would have to return to their onsite system until they again pass three tests in a row,” Richard Solbrig, STPUD general manager, told Lake Tahoe News.

Alpine County owns a small portion of the export system capacity. Sorensen’s has requested to exercise that part of the agreement, which Alpine must approve.

“Note that the local water quality in the West Fork of the Carson River was being protected by Sorensen’s discharging treated water from their (wastewater treatment plant) to their onsite percolation area, even if it didn’t meet all of the requirements that the district’s plant does, because it was much cleaner than the septic tank effluent from their pre-WWTP system,” Solbrig explained.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report