Las Vegas and much of Southern Nevada from 2022 will get less water under the federal government’s first-ever water-shortage declaration.
Southern Nevada will be required to adapt to better conservation efforts to combat the next year’s shortfall of about seven billion gallons of water at Lake Mead.
Lake Mead is fed by the Colorado River and supplies 90 percent of Southern Nevada’s water. The Lake is the largest water reservoir by volume in the US. Recently, the lake has seen its volume decrease by 40 percent, the lowest since Hoover Dam was completed in 1930.
Water usage concerns in Las Vegas have resulted in finger-pointing with residents blaming casinos for wasting water on their swimming pools as water features. Other note that green lawns in the fast-growing city in the Mojave Desert are the biggest problem.
John Entsminger, the general manager of Southern Nevada Water Authority, posted a video on YouTube this week noting that grass is the biggest water guzzler in the valley.
“Grass is the biggest water guzzler here in the valley. It’s not Strip resorts, golf courses, or parks. Single-family homes, by far use the most water, mostly for outdoor landscape irrigation.”
Now, less water is flowing into the Colorado River and Lake Mead, Las Vegas Valley will face tough water challenges. Nevada Water Authority is urging residents to follow seasonal water restrictions and report lawn water who misuse water.
Entsminger added that the water authority would pay residents to replace their thirst grass with desert-friendly landscaping.
“We have to seriously step up water conservation. If you have grass that serves no recreation value, get rid of it.”