We all should be thankful for water. And every drop counts these days. Red Rock City Lifestyle connected with the Southern Nevada Water Authority to get the real story of what is happening with the Southern Nevada water supply and how we can all pitch in to ensure there is enough water to go around for years to come.
Colby Pellegrino
Deputy General Manager of Resources
Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA)
As the Deputy General Manager of Resources for the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) and the Las Vegas Valley Water District, Colby Pellegrino is responsible for the management of the SNWA’s water resource portfolio, which includes protecting Nevada’s interests and rights to Colorado River water through interstate negotiations, developing regional water conservation programs, managing groundwater resources, and water resource planning. She also serves on the Board of Alliance for Water Efficiency, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the efficient and sustainable use of water and water conservation advocacy throughout North America.
What is the current water shortage situation in Southern Nevada?
The worst drought in more than 1,200 years continues to reduce water flowing from the Colorado River into Lake Mead, the source of 90 percent of Southern Nevada’s water supply. After 20 years of megadrought conditions and warmer temperatures, Lake Mead’s water levels continue to drop to critically low levels. The lake has dropped more than 170 feet since 2000.
In response to the falling lake levels, the federal government declared a tier two shortage for Colorado River users, which will reduce Southern Nevada’s annual 300,000 acre-feet river to 275,000 acre-feet next year. However, our water consumption last year was 242,00 acre-feet and well below the shortage threshold. This is one reason why water conservation remains so important.
What can you tell us about the water shortage on the Colorado River?
First, it’s important to remember that our community has been preparing for this for the last two decades through our water conservation programs and our investment in infrastructure in Lake Mead.
But the conditions on the Colorado River are not good, and Nevada is not the only river user to have its annual allocation reduced. Under tier two shortage conditions, Arizona’s allocation will be cut by 592,000 acre-feet, and Mexico will see its allocation cut by 104,000 acre-feet.
The fact is that climate change and aridification have reduced the river’s annual flows to a little more than 12 million acre-feet of water per year (mafy). Yet, collectively the basin states and Mexico are using about 14 mafy. Despite agreements between the basin states and an international treaty with Mexico that allow up to 16.5 mafy to be used, simple math tells you that’s not sustainable in the short or long term. There simply isn’t enough water flowing in the river to sustain the current water usage, so we all must reduce water usage.
With the severe water shortage in Lake Mead, what cuts and changes can Southern Nevadans expect next year?
At least in the near term, we’re in a relatively enviable position because we are not using our full Colorado River allocation. Over the past 20 years, this community has invested in infrastructure and conservation programs to protect access to our water supply and reduce our water consumption.
We are one of the only communities in the world that captures, treats, and recycles nearly every drop of water used indoors, allowing us to stretch our limited water supply.
So, as climate change and aridification continue to impact water availability in the Colorado River Basin, we must intensify our outdoor water conservation efforts to ensure our quality of life and economic vitality.
Conservation works. Last year, Southern Nevadans consumed 26 percent less Colorado River water than they did in 2002 despite the addition of more than 750,000 new residents during that time.
Tell us about SNWA's Low Lake Level Pumping Station and how it will ensure Southern Nevada maintains access to its primary water supplies in Lake Mead.
While our water resources are limited, we live in one of the most water-secure cities in the Colorado River Basin because we’ve invested in the infrastructure to ensure we have access to our water supply.
SNWA engineered and constructed a deep-water intake (Intake No. 3) and Low Lake Level Pumping Station at Lake Mead, which secures access to the community’s water supply. Even if lake levels decline to a point where no water can pass through Hoover Dam to meet downstream water demands in California, Arizona, and Mexico, Southern Nevada will have access to its water in Lake Mead.
What are some key initiatives that the SNWA is enacting to conserve water?
To help protect our water supply and our community’s economic sustainability, the SNWA and its member agencies are implementing a number of aggressive conservation measures to further reduce outdoor water consumption.
These measures include a ban on new man-made lakes and fountains (including on the Las Vegas Strip) and additional restrictions on decorative grass, evaporative cooling systems, golf courses, and the size of new swimming pools. Local water agencies also are evaluating water rates in response to these unprecedented conditions, including introducing fees for excessive water use.
We are working with the community to ensure future development is as water smart as possible through these restrictions on grass, pool sizes, and evaporative cooling systems. No one questions building codes about protecting against earthquakes in San Francisco — water scarcity is our natural disaster, and we are implementing municipal code changes to ensure new development has minimal impact.
What water conservation efforts can residents make to have the biggest impact?
About 60 percent of our drinking water is used outdoors, and much of that is to irrigate landscapes. Immediately reducing your outdoor water use is the most important action you can take to protect our water supply.
Change your watering clock each season to comply with the seasonal watering restrictions.
Water only on your three assigned days in the fall and spring, one day in the winter, and never on Sunday.
Convert grass to drip-irrigated trees and plants.
If the only time you step on your grass is to mow it, it’s time to take it out. The SNWA offers a cash incentive of up to $3 per square foot of grass replaced with drip-irrigated plants and trees. You can apply for the Water Smart Landscapes Rebate on www.snwa.com.
Report water waste to your water provider.
Check your irrigation system weekly to identify leaks or misaligned sprinklers that may let water flow off your property, which can result in fines starting at $80 and going as high as $5,000 for repeat offenders. And, if you see water waste in your neighborhood, report it to your water utility.
Why are you personally grateful for water? OR What does water mean to you?
Simply put, water is essential to all life, and it’s the most valuable natural resource in Southern Nevada. I’m proud to be part of the SNWA and its efforts to protect and conserve our water supply. I’m also proud of what this community has accomplished over the past two decades through its commitment to water conservation.
I’m often asked if we’ll run out of water, and my answer is that we don’t have to. Our willingness to adapt to changing climate conditions and manage our water supply responsibly will help ensure our future.
What do you hope locals understand?
Climate change is impacting communities everywhere. Some cities will have to deal with rising sea levels and others with super storms. Our reality is less water and warmer temperatures, and we will need to adapt to sustain the future.
Every single sector of this community has a role to play in water conservation. We don’t have the luxury of one group saying, “Everybody but me.” Everyone must do their part to conserve water.
It’s also important to remember that if you moved or started a business here after 2002, you were able to do so because of the conservation of those who came before you. But to weather climate change and sustain long-term economic growth, everyone must step up and increase their conservation efforts.
The SNWA is a not-for-profit public agency comprised of seven local water and wastewater agencies (Big Bend Water District, Boulder City, Clark County Water Reclamation District, Henderson, Las Vegas, Las Vegas Valley Water District and North Las Vegas). As the wholesale water provider for more than 2.2 million residents in Southern Nevada, the SNWA is responsible for water treatment and wholesale delivery, as well as acquiring and managing long-term water resources for the Las Vegas Valley.
