A few residents living around the former Willow Creek Golf Course complained to the Nye County Water District board about water quality last week, but the board has yet to grasp what its mission will be.

As Nye County Manager Rick Osborne told board members: "That is a formidable task, looking at all the things you're contemplating being responsible for."

On a general scale, County Commissioner Butch Borasky said, "The reason the board was put in is to protect the water."

But beyond that encompassing statement, the board agenda dealt with the district's role, possible revenues, the management of water rights, recommendations on water use and conservation, possible acquisition of utility systems and well-head protection, during a joint workshop with county commissioners via videoconference.

Wilton Avirett, who has an appeal pending before the county commission on the parceling of lots around the former Willow Creek Golf Course, complained about the recycled effluent being sprayed on the golf course. While driving along Upland Avenue going to breakfast, he said, "It made me so goddam sick, I just about threw up."

Wendy Barnett, regional director of Utilities Inc., said her company monitors the effluent coming from the sewer treatment plant on Willow Creek Golf Course to ensure it's clean. The problem is with the ponds, she said.

She encouraged people with complaints about the odors or poor water quality to call the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection.

Richard Cantino asked what effort is being taken to replace the liners in the golf course ponds.

"These liners are in such disrepair, they might as well not be in existence, allowing our effluent to sink into our water aquifer," Cantino said. "What is the status of the testing of the water quality at these ponds? Last spring they were in horrendous shape. The fecal coliform level was way off the charts. The public has not been informed of the results of these water quality studies."

While board members suggested residents contact NDEP or the private utility company, Oz Wichman, a Nye County engineering technician and husband of County Commissioner Lorinda Wichman, said the board will have to delve into water quality issues as well as water rights.

Borasky said he's concerned about what's getting into the groundwater from faulty septic systems.

Board member Donna Lamm, a Pahrump Realtor, said the Southern Nye County Conservation District obtained a grant five years ago to do a valleywide survey because there was a scare about contamination from septic tanks.

"There were no instances of septic tank contamination at that time.," Lamm said. But she suggested it might be time to do another survey.

Countywide, Oz Wichman said it would be up to the state engineer's office to get into issues involving wells on private property. The state engineer's office also has the authority to ensure owners plug abandoned wells.

"I don't have authority to walk on anybody's property and tell them what to do with their well, but I do have authority to make sure our municipal wells are properly protected," he said.

Water district board member Robert Cameron, from Amargosa Valley, said the prevailing opinion, from county commission representatives Lorinda Wichman and Joni Eastley, was that the water district board wouldn't pursue acquiring private utility companies.

Community planner Cheryl Beeman said the water district board talked about merely being a safety net to communities like Gabbs that may run into problems with local utility companies.

"As far as going out and taking over and owning, I have no desire to do that. But yet if you can assist these communities and small municipalities with their water systems, holy cow, go for it," Lorinda Wichman said.

Tonopah Town Manager James Eason, a water district board member, added, "We don't believe it is the intent of this board to go out and create one large utility."

Lorinda Wichman asked if board members considered a parcel fee as a way to fund the district. Darrell Lacy said a parcel fee of no more than $5 per parcel could be imposed. County Commissioner Fely Quitevis said she's received enough phone calls lately from people complaining about the property values being too high.

There was talk about using fees from the drilling of new wells to run the water district, but Lacy didn't think that would generate much revenue. He also raised the possibility of obtaining grants.

"Our goal is not to raise your taxes. Our goal here is to protect your water," Eason said.

Lacy indicated the county could once again establish a natural resources director to assist the water district.

There was a question over who would track county water rights, the water district board or the planning department, which monitors donated water rights as a condition of parceling.

Nye County Planning Director Jack Lohman said his planners compiled a report on water rights donated in the Pahrump Regional Planning District through the parceling process since 2004.

"It's not just a matter of tracking the water rights -- who turned in what, where. We're dealing with a perishable resource," Lamm said. "I don't see anybody's doing that at all."

Some of the two dozen people in attendance had misunderstandings about the mission of the board, from a Johnnie resident who thought the meeting was about capping wells, to a Tonopah resident who traveled to Pahrump to talk about his attempts to sell water rights to the county. Representatives of private utility companies in Pahrump were in attendance.

Eason had questions about the water district board's authority. Nye County Chief Civil Deputy District Attorney Ron Kent said the bill approved by the Legislature made the board relatively, if not completely, autonomous of the county commission.

"Once this board is established and moving forward, the county commission's role in setting policy would be very limited," Kent said.

Lacy said only a few issues would require approval of the water board and county commission, like raising taxes or transferring water to different basins. But Kent said decisions of the water board can be appealed to the county commission.

Water district board member Roberta "Midge" Carver wanted to study another city in the Southwest that has a good water conservation effort.

"Conservation is, I think, going to be the absolute, most important thing that happens out of this," Carver said.

The board should study the use of recycled effluent, or gray water, she said.

Lohman said there is a water element in the county comprehensive plan, which is being updated.

"If in the future this water board, or district, decides to obtain another utility or facilitate in that manner -- I know we're kind of jumping ahead -- those are things this board is going to have to be aware of if they are acquiring additional water rights," Eason said.