Neighbors want assurance water tank will be safe

Neighbors of a proposed 2.5-million-gallon water tank in East Valley demanded assurance Monday from Minden officials that the structure will be safe.

"We're not going to put anything up there that's not safe," said Bob Hadfield, chairman of the Minden Town Board. "We'll do everything within our engineering capabilities to assure that the tank will be safe. We want to be good neighbors."

About a dozen people attended an information session about the tank, planned for an East Valley hillside southeast of the intersection of Amber Way and Coyote Road.

The water tank is part of a $21 million regional system to provide wholesale water service and safe drinking water from Minden to north Douglas County and Carson City.

Construction of the $2 million tank, on Bureau of Land Management Property, is to begin late this summer with completion next spring.

The pre-stressed concrete tank is 45-feet tall with a water depth of 30 feet and a 12-foot dome, 121 feet diameter.

For Monday's meeting, Minden officials prepared answers to more than a dozen questions asked by residents at a similar session on March 24.

Noting the area's seismic activity, residents expressed concern about what would happen in the event of an earthquake.

They weren't satisfied with the statement that town would not be liable for damage from "an act of God" natural disasters such as a seismic event or that leak damage may be covered by an individual homeowner's policy.

"Since you - the Town of Minden - chose to put the water tank there, I don't know why it's the homeowners' problem," said George King who lives near the proposed site.

"Minden should be the one taking responsibility. You acted out of negligence in choosing the site," he said.

Some residents expressed concern that the town would drill in the area and take their water.

"Nevada law protects domestic wells," said town engineer Bruce Scott. "The East Valley area is not conducive to create wells as opposed to other areas where we have wells. It doesn't make sense for the town to try to do it."

Officials said based on historic performance of concrete tanks of similar construction, in case of a seismic event the most likely failure is a crack in the side. Leakage flow would travel west from the tank in an existing drainage easement.

Residents were pleased to learn fire hydrants would be installed in the area which would reduce their homeowners' insurance.

Town Manager Roger Van Alyne said he would make sure that construction traffic stays out of neighborhoods, but added the town couldn't regulate where residents drove during the building phase.

"We have an obligation to put the road back the way it was, or in better condition," Van Alyne said.

The project also will have a supervisor monitoring every stage of construction.

Van Alyne said copies of the frequently-asked questions about the water tank would be available beginning Monday at the town office, 1604 Esmeralda Ave., Suite 101. Information, 782-5976.