The Gardnerville Ranchos is the largest single community in Douglas County.
It has been 19 years since the last time the Gardnerville Ranchos General Improvement District raised water rates, according to Manager Greg Reed.
The district, which serves as the largest water purveyor in Carson Valley, has the lowest rates in the Carson River watershed, Reed said.
Besides inflation amounting to 55.87 percent over that time, the district has also been replacing its water lines.
“Since 2017, we have replaced 12,000 feet of asbestos water mains and 10,000 feet of Schedule 40 PVC water mains, replaced Well No. 4, and are in the process of bringing the Long Valley Booster Station above ground which was paid for with a $2 million grant,” Reed said. “We have completed design for the replacement of an additional 20,000 feet of Schedule 40 water mains and are currently undertaking the design for the replacement of the final 27,000 feet of Schedule 40, which will be paid for through a $500,000 grant.”
The district is up for another $4 million grant to replace 20,000 feet of water line.
Fixed water rates for the district will go from $21.50 a month to $23.44 if they are approved. Volume use will go to 98 cents per 1,000 gallons for those using more than 11,000 gallons a month.
The district is also preparing to increase its sewer rates.
While the district maintains its own sewer lines, treatment is done by the Minden-Gardnerville Sanitation District.
The sewer district raised its rates over five years with the last increase set for July 1, 2028.
The improvement district last raised its sewer rates in 2015, which reflected the previous sewer district increase.
“The majority of GRGID’s costs are the rates we pay to MGSD,” Reed said. “Inflation pressures, coupled with MGSD’s rate increases, are the driving factors requiring a GRGID sewer rate increase.”
Ranchos residents can expect their sewer rates to go up to reflect the cost of sewer treatment.
Rates for the sewer district went up 63 percent in 2024 and will go up another quarter on July 1. Reed said the district proposes increasing its sewer rates by 35 percent this year to offset the increases in costs from the sanitation district.
The Ranchos and the sewer district were established in the mid-1960s. Minden-Gardnerville Sewer District is the largest treater of sewage in Carson Valley.