1. John J. Entsminger, General Manager

2. Las Vegas, Nevada, US Approximately: 20,000 km2 2 million residents
40 million annual visitors
10 cm annual precipitation

3. Las Vegas
When people think of Las Vegas, they think of the hotels, the restaurants and entertainment venues that the city offers. Millions of people vacation each year in Las Vegas.
In 2015, more than 42 million people visited Las Vegas, and as the city’s water provider, it is our job to ensure that those visitors can turn on the tap with confidence.

4. However, more than 2 million people also call Southern Nevada “home,” and rely on the SNWA to provide a safe and reliable water supply for their homes and businesses.
The Southern Nevada Water Authority was formed in 1991 to address Southern Nevada’s unique water needs on a regional basis.
Las Vegas

5. The SNWA meets the water demands of
Southern Nevada’s 2 million residents and
40 million annual visitors.
However, more than 2 million people also call Southern Nevada “home,” and rely on the SNWA to provide a safe and reliable water supply for their homes and businesses.
The Southern Nevada Water Authority was formed in 1991 to address Southern Nevada’s unique water needs on a regional basis.

6. The SNWA is a not-for-profit agency created in 1991 to provide a safe, reliable water supply for Southern Nevada.
WATER SUPPLY
PLANNING
Developing and managing regional water supplies
CONSERVATION
Incentives, Programs, Regulation and Pricing
WATER
QUALITY
Maintaining and protecting water quality
INFRASTRUCTURE
Building and operating
major facilities
STEWARDSHIP
Protecting
environmental resources

7. SOUTHERN NEVADA’S WATER USE5%
of water available for use

8. SOUTHERN NEVADA’S WATER USE

9. 90% 10% The Colorado River meets 90 percent
of Southern Nevada’s water demands.
90%
10%
Colorado River
Resources
Southern Nevada
Groundwater

10. The Colorado River is shared among seven Basin States and the country of Mexico.

11. Nevada receives 370 million m3 of Colorado River water annually.
River Allocations
(in billion m3)

12. The Colorado River Basin is facing one of the worst droughts in recorded history.

13. Lake Mead’s water levels have fallen nearly 43 meters.
Drought impacts:
Availability of supplies
Resource allocations
Water quality in the lake
Infrastructure operations
2000
Today

14. WATER RESOURCES
The SNWA relies upon a mix of permanent, temporary and future water resources to meet Southern Nevada’s water demands.
PERMANENT
TEMPORARY
FUTURE

15. 493 million m3 in permanent water resources
PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE
The SNWA maintains a 50-year Water Resource Plan that outlines projected demands and resources over a 50-year planning horizon.
493 million m3 in permanent water resources
More than 2.2 billion m3 is banked for future use

16. Extension of main terms of Minute 319:
WORKING WITH MEXICO
Extension of main terms of Minute 319:
Shortage, surplus, Intentionally Created Mexican Allocation
New projects and more conservation
Includes an environmental component
Supports ongoing studies (desalination)
Bridging to Drought Contingency Planning
Laguna Grande Restoration Site

17. Southern Nevada’s conservation program promotes the efficient use
of water resources and relies on four key tenets:
REGULATIONS
Development codes, watering restrictions and other local ordinances help keep the use of water efficient.
PROGRAMS
Incentive programs offer rebates for water-saving technologies and practices, such as car washes, landscape removal and pool covers.
PRICING
Local purveyors establish water rates that send conservation signals, but remain competitive among similarly-sized western cities.
EDUCATION
Tools such as the Speakers Bureau program, Youth Advisory Council, websites, publications, social media and public access TV show help reinforce messaging.

18. More than 99% of water used indoors is captured, treated and reused.
Only water used outdoors is lost. Southern Nevada can reuse water used indoors indefinitely.

19. CONSERVATION EDUCATION AND OUTREACH
Community outreach
How-to collateral (finding leaks, landscaping planning, pool and spa maintenance)
H2O University teacher training
Youth Advisory Council
Desert demonstration gardens and plant sales
Water Smart Innovations Conference
Springs Preserve
Mass media and marketing

20. CONSERVATION REGULATION AND INCENTIVES
MANDATORY
Landscape development codes
Golf course water budgets
Mandatory watering restrictions
Water-waste prohibition
VOLUNTARY
Smart Irrigation equipment rebates
Pool cover rebates
Water Efficient Technologies (W.E.T.) for industrial/institutional clients
Indoor Retrofit program for older homes and apartments
Water Smart Landscape (WSL) program

21. CONSERVATION
The SNWA’s Water Smart Landscapes Program has yielded remarkable water savings for Southern Nevada.
Luxor hotel is 106 meters tall, 30 meters shorter than the Great Pyramid of Giza.

22. CONSERVATION PROGRESS REPORT (Since 2002)

23. The SNWA monitors water quality
COMMITMENT TO WATER QUALITY
The SNWA monitors water quality
24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Each year, the SNWA laboratory staff:
Collects more than 33,000 water samples
Conducts more than 333,000 analyses
Tests for more than 140 regulated and unregulated contaminants
Ensures that Southern Nevada’s water meets or surpasses federal Safe Drinking Water Act standards

24. Operations began September 2015.
SECURING A FUTURE:
Intake No. 3
Intake No. 3 ensures system capacity and protects customers from water quality issues.
Operations began September 2015.
Project details:
4 km tunnel underneath Lake Mead
Approximately 2,400 concrete rings—each weighing 30 metric tons—used to line tunnel
Hydrostatic pressure of 15 bar
$817 million (€751 million)
Intake Tunnel

25. SECURING A FUTURE:
Low Lake Level Pump Station
Construction has begun on a new Low Lake Level Pumping Station near Lake Mead.
When completed, the pump station will ensure water deliveries down to elevation 266 meters.
Estimated cost: $650 million (€597.8 million)

26. The SNWA employs environmentally responsible and sustainable practices
STEWARDSHIP
The SNWA employs environmentally responsible and sustainable practices
Species recovery and protection
Las Vegas Wash
Hydroelectric Turbines
Solar Power
The SNWA has incorporated various photovoltaic technologies into its water system operations
The 14-megawatt River Mountains Solar Facility features more than 55,000 solar panels covering nearly 100 acres. 
The facility also features solar covered parking panels and a Regional Test Center which produces 432 kilowatts of clean energy
Combined, SNWA's solar projects generate approximately 38,600,000 kilowatt hours per year - the equivalent energy usage of more than 3,000 Las Vegas households.
The SNWA has developed hydropower projects at three Rate of Flow Control Stations (ROFCS) in Las Vegas and Henderson. The projects include a small turbine and induction generator at each site. As water passes through the pipeline, it turns the turbine and generates electricity. Combined, more than two megawatts of electricity can be generated from these systems.
Las Vegas Wash:
Constructed 19 of 21 identified erosion control structures or weirs
Stabilized more than 12 miles of the Wash's banks
Revegetated approximately 450 acres with trees, shrubs and emergents
Removed more than 500,000 pounds of trash from adjacent areas
Completed extensive wildlife and water quality monitoring programs
Hosted and/or participated in numerous volunteer events
Built or improved more than two miles of trails
Implemented an invasive species management program
The SNWA participates in several environmental programs that contribute to species recovery and habitat conservation and protection
Goals of the program include:
Conserving habitat and working toward recovery of threatened and endangered species
Reducing the likelihood of additional species listings
Accommodating current water diversions and power production
Optimizing opportunities for future water and power development