Welcome to
Smart About Water
A place to understand approaches to water-resource management in the Truckee Meadows.
Smart Meters Provide Real-Time Water Usage Information
According to Truckee Meadows Water Authority (TMWA), substantial progress has been made on the installation of smart water meters throughout its Reno/Sparks service area. At this time, a broad majority of TMWA customers now have smart meters installed.
Smart meters are proven to give customers the ability to better manage water use, save money and quickly mitigate the damage that undetected water leaks can cause.
Here is an overview of benefits:
- Real-Time Data and Leak Detection: Smart meters can monitor daily water consumption and spot irregularities immediately.
- Accurate and Reliable Water Usage Tracking: Unlike older meters, smart meters don’t rely on mechanical parts, which can wear down over time.
- Improved Water Conservation: With accurate, real-time data, you can easily track water consumption and adopt water-saving habits. For businesses, this is especially beneficial for managing large-scale operations.
- Long-Term Durability and Efficiency: Smart meters are designed to last 20 years or more and run with minimal energy use, reducing operational costs which help keep water rates as low as possible.
- System Loss Prevention: This system-wide improvement will help TMWA respond more quickly to system issues saving water and reducing troubleshooting when a problem is suspected.
Full system installation of smart meters is expected to be complete in summer of 2025. TMWA customers can view smart meter data for their home or business at tmwa.com/online.
Truckee River and Tahoe Basins: Daily Water Update
Daily SNOTEL Basin Index
Year-to-date indexes represent % of normal snow water equivalent compared to median value on this day for the 1981-2010 period.
This provisional data is provided from the California/Nevada SNOTEL Snow/Precipitation Update Report by the Natural Resources Conversation Service, and is subject to revision. Null percentages mean there is no measurable snowpack on that day.
Current Truckee River Flow
A key location where Truckee River flows are measured (in cubic feet per second or cfs) is near the California-Nevada state line, at the USGS Farad gaging station. This is the gaging station where required rates of flow are measured.
From March through September the required rate of flow is set for 500 cfs, and between October and February required rate of flow is 400 cfs. Flow rates are managed by the Federal Water Master and all data is provided by the United States Geological Survey.
For responsible recreational enthusiasts who monitor these flows, this map outlines all access points, features, diversions and portage options along the Truckee River from Truckee, CA to Tracy, NV.
Upstream Water Storage
Volume of water is measured in Acre Feet (AF). While many stakeholders also store water upstream, information shown here only reflects the upstream reserves held by Truckee Meadows Water Authority.
Water stored by TMWA is updated daily:
| Boca Reservoir | 1,737 Acre Feet |
| Donner Lake* | 4,001 Acre Feet |
| Independence Lake* | 14,325 Acre Feet |
| Prosser Reservoir | 0 Acre Feet |
| Stampede Reservoir | 13,455 Acre Feet |
| Lake Tahoe | 0 Acre Feet |
*TMWA owns 100% of the storage at both Donner and Independence Lakes.
Current Lake Tahoe Level
The Dam at Tahoe City controls the amount of water released into the Truckee River. It can retain 6.1 feet of Lake Tahoe, or at maximum 744,600 acre feet of water. This maximum volume is met when water behind the dam reaches an elevation of 6229.10 feet.
Water Treatment Plant Production
Water from the Truckee Meadows is treated at two locations: the Chalk Bluff Treatment Plant in northwest Reno and the Glendale Water Treatment Plant in Sparks. Treatment plant output varies by season, as peak summertime customer demand can be as much as 4 times typical wintertime customer demand.
Many residents in the region are also served by groundwater wells.
Hydroelectric Production
The Truckee River is an excellent source of hydroelectric power. In fact, Fleish, Verdi and Washoe hydroelectric power plants produce an average of 50,000 kWh per year. This clean energy offsets the operational power costs for Truckee Meadows Water Authority and is a key contributing factor for keeping water rates as low as possible for customers. Benefits to the environment are sizable as well. Every day that the hydroelectric plants run at full capacity, over 90,500 pounds of CO2 emissions are effectively eliminated from our atmosphere.
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March 2025
Events postings will begin again in March 2025.
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