Residents urge district to reconsider plastic pipes, cite wildfire contamination and long-term uncertainty

Multiple residents used the public comment period to press the district on long-term water quality and material choices for the new mains in the Tahoe Cedars/Tahoma projects.

"I would prefer ... that you guys not cut corners ... and make us guinea pigs," Michelle Miller (speaker 11) said, urging the board to avoid PEX plastic pipe because she believes long-term health effects are not yet known. Monica Evans (speaker 10) told the board that benzene from past wildfires migrated into buried supply lines and took months to clear, adding: "Benzene causes cancer."

District staff responded that the pipe materials under consideration conform to American Water Works Association and state drinking water standards and that the plans have been reviewed by the California Division of Drinking Water. Staff also said that materials used in the Tahoe Cedars project are the same materials used elsewhere across the district and are selected to meet regulatory requirements and industry standards.

Board members said the public's concerns are noted and discussed the difficulty of comparing material longevity and post-fire behavior; staff said the district would continue documenting regulatory reviews and provide FAQs to the public ahead of the Oct. 20 community meeting.

The board did not change the approved construction materials during the meeting; staff said they will continue to coordinate with regulators and communicate testing and post-fire response plans to residents.