Cyndi Loza

A recent rash of vandalism to water tanks has Washoe County officials asking communities for help.

While graffiti is an ongoing problem, a wave of vandalism to local water tanks began occurring in mid-June, said Betsy Mellinger, spokeswoman for the Washoe County Department of Water Resources. Graffiti was found on various tanks, and in one instance, someone broke through a gate to paint graffiti on the Spanish Springs Flood Detention Project.

Other sites affected during the spree included Desert Springs, Spring Creek, Lemmon Valley, Horizon Hills and Hidden Valley, Mellinger said

“The bottom line here is that we’re asking the community to become more aware about what goes on in their neighborhood, and if there’s suspicious activity, we’re asking them to report it,” Mellinger said in an e-mail.

Any concern with the quality of water from the tanks is purely artificial, since tampering with Washoe water tanks can set off an alarm, she said.

However, painting over graffiti could “cover a potential problem with the tank like a leak, rust (or) a pinhole,” said Ron Presley, painter supervisor of the county’s Facilities Management Department.

Mellinger will address this issue at the Spanish Springs Citizens Advisory Board meeting scheduled for July 9 at the Lazy 5 Regional Park, 7100 Pyramid Lake Road.