The successful Amador Transmission Pipeline has just celebrated its first anniversary. The pipeline became operational one year ago today, and “has exceeded our expectations,” says Amador Water Agency General Manager Jim Abercrombie.  The objectives of the new pipeline were to provide “clean, reliable water” for Amador County, to increase water supply and quality, and to increase water conservation.  Now, one year later, the pipeline project has met and exceeded those goals.  Before the pipeline, the Agency would lose about 30 to 50 percent of the water from Lake Tabeau that was transported through the old canal.

The construction of the pipeline has all but eliminated that water loss.  Perhaps the most added benefit is the reduction in turbidity, or suspended particles that cause the water to lose its transparency.  According to the Agency, reduction in turbidity has been 50 percent better than expected, going from 75 NTU (a measure of turbidity) down to 10 or 12 NTU during the winter months.  Another beneficial advantage is the reduction of bacteria in the water that arrives at the Tanner Plant.  Previous to the pipeline, water runoff from cattle ranch land would introduce coliform bacteria into the water.  The installation of the pipeline has greatly reduced this factor by eliminating the presence of surface water contamination. The Amador Water Agency “is proud to have completed a project that offers an improved and reliable water source for ratepayers that will last for many, many years.”