Briefs

Water was restored at Carson Tahoe Regional Medical Center around noon Wednesday.

"Everything at CTRMC is fully functioning," spokeswoman Diane O. Rush wrote in a press release. "The water cultures came back from the state health department showing negative for any contamination, which reaffirmed our initial tests."

Two major water pipes broke around 4 p.m. Monday. Crews arrived to begin fixing the problem around 5 p.m.

Hospital staff and visitors used portable toilets set up outside the emergency department and on the west side of the cafeteria.

Bottled water was distributed to 114 patients and staff. Hand sanitizer, towelettes and sanitized water kept in stock were used. All surgeries were postponed.

One emergency surgery was diverted to a Reno hospital.

The city operations chief, Curtis Horton, said a break in the line supplying the fire suppression system could be responsible for breaking the domestic water line. The cost of repair is not yet known.

Sewage spill fine will get public hearing

A public hearing will be held in Kings Beach on May 11 on the penalty for a sewage spill that closed beaches on the North Shore last summer.

Lahontan Water Board will consider whether to accept, modify or reject a fine of $700,000 recommended by the agency's staff.

The hearing is the second item on the board's agenda that day, which means it will begin shortly after the meeting starts at 9:30 a.m.

Representatives from Lahontan, the owners of the property, and the contractor who severed the sewer line will each have 60 minutes to make presentations. Other comments will be limited to five minutes.

The meeting will be in Kings Beach at the North Tahoe Conference Center, 8318 North Lake Blvd.