Spanish Springs Valley water contamination finds a source

Monday, Jan. 10, 2000 | 12:39 p.m.

Local government officials said they'll use the findings by a U.S. Geological Survey researcher to try to convince valley residents to hook up to a community sewer system.

About 2,000 homes in the rapidly growing valley use septic tanks. Two water suppliers pump drinking water from valley wells that have high nitrate levels to about 3,000 homes.

The study by Ralph Seiler, a hydrologist in the agency's Carson City office, used nine indicators to determine if septic tanks were the source of nitrates in the wells.

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