Central Truckee Meadows Remediation District Home
Every year the Board of County Commissioners holds a public hearing on amending Remediation District boundary and assessing Remediation Fees for the upcoming tax year. For more information regarding these meetings, please refer to the CTMRD staff report, CTMRD Service Area and Contaminant Boundaries, and CTMRD Annual Fee Schedule on the Download CTMRD Maps & Reports page.
The Central Truckee Meadows Remediation District (CTMRD) program is implemented and administered by the Washoe County Community Services Department on behalf of the Board of County Commissioners.
The CTMRD was created by State statute and County ordinance in 1995 in order to address the presence of tetrachloroethene (PCE) in groundwater in Reno and Sparks. PCE contamination in the central Truckee Meadows is widespread and likely to have originated from multiple sources over time.
PCE is a human-made chemical, commonly used as a solvent in dry cleaning, auto repair, and industrial operations. PCE is also found in some common household products including cleaners, paint products, adhesives, insecticides, and automotive products. PCE is a common environmental contaminant that has been closely monitored and regulated as a potential drinking water contaminant since 1991. The improper use, storage, and disposal of PCE can result in risks to human health. PCE is considered a probable human carcinogen by the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer. Exposure to PCE can result in an increased likelihood of health problems, including cancer.
CTMRD program efforts are focused on four key, interrelated objectives:
- Mitigate existing PCE contamination of groundwater,
- Prevent additional PCE contamination from occurring,
- Protect those parts of the aquifer system that are not contaminated with PCE, and
- Inform stakeholder agencies, the public, the business sector, and other interested parties of CTMRD program activities.
WCCSD works closely with a number of stakeholder agencies in order to achieve CTMRD program objectives and maintain the continued use of groundwater in the central Truckee Meadows. These agencies include Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP), Washoe County Health District (WCHD), Truckee Meadows Water Authority (TMWA), City of Reno, and City of Sparks. Representatives from these agencies and WCCSD meet on a regular basis to discuss the collective progress being made toward goals and objectives, as well as to discuss strategies for meeting challenges.
The collaborative, community-based solution implemented through the CTMRD program is the only one of its kind in Nevada. The unique approach allows, local, county, and state agencies to work together to address PCE contamination in ways that are consistent with local goals and priorities. Having the CTMRD program in place is an alternative to federal Superfund designation, which can result in significant property devaluation and lack of liability relief for innocent property owners. In addition, we believe our innovative program has the potential to serve as a positive model for similar contamination problems in other communities.
We are located at the Washoe County main complex at
1001 E. Ninth Street, Building C, Reno NV 89512
Contact Brian Bass, Interim Program Manager, at bbass@washoecounty.gov or 775.954.4637 for questions regarding the remediation program.
For any other questions, please contact our Washoe311 customer service center by dialing 3-1-1 from any phone, 775-328-2003, or go online. Washoe311 is your resident dedicated service center. With a deeply researched knowledge database, staff can answer all your questions and connect you with the county department for the service you need.