Strategic Plan to Address Growth in Southern Nevada

WATER SUPPLY/DISTRIBUTION

During the 1980 and 1990’s, Southern Nevada’s high growth rate significantly accelerated the need for local water purveyors to expand their systems. Existing facilities quickly became inadequate and were unable to ensure system capacity and reliability; the Colorado River water allocation was also a limiting factor.

To better coordinate local efforts to address these challenges, seven local water and wastewater agencies created a regional water agency, the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA). Since its creation in 1991, the SNWA expanded its permanent yearly water supply to 558,055 acre feet (AF), and has secured an additional fixed block of 211,979 AF to supplement our yearly water supply, which is projected to meet the demand to the year 2018. A proactive design and construction program for water treatment and distribution systems has also been implemented. As a result, it is projected that adequate facilities will be in place to meet the demand. Funding for these facilities, however, is based upon “growth paying for growth” for new capacity and all water users paying for water quality and reliability improvements. All projected facility needs can be adequately funded through regular, significant increases to charges and rates. However, additional reliable funding sources are desirable in constructing, operating, and maintaining these new facilities. The quarter cent sales tax is such a funding option. Implementation of this sales tax, will generate a projected $2.3 billion for facility construction (both water and wastewater), which will help prevent extraordinarily high connection charges and will moderate increases in water rates.

The Authority recognizes that this regional approach to address water issues has proven effective for Southern Nevada. However, the SNWA must continue to develop alternative water supplies, expand treatment and distribution systems, identify and implements stable sources of project funding.

Goal: Provide a reliable, cost-effective water supply to Southern Nevada businesses, residences, and visitors.

OBJECTIVES	STRATEGIES
A. Increase the water supply	1. Continue to acquire additional sources of water, through the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA). 2. Strengthen community participation and awareness in conservation, through the SNWA.
B. Meet water distribution needs.	1. Implement the SNWA Capital Improvement Plan. 2. Maintain reliable sources of funding for construction, operation, and maintenance of treatment and distribution facilities. 3. Implement the quarter cent sales tax option proposal as approved by the voters on November 3, 1998. 4. Maximize the efficiency of local distribution systems through regional coordination by local entities. 5. Develop a regional water reuse plan involving all appropriate local water reuse entities.
C. Provide quality water treatment.	1. Continue to construct and maintain facilities which that water to meet all water quality standards including ozone disinfection facilities. 2. Through the SNWA, develop and implement a water quality data bank which is accessible to the public, and contains monitoring results of Lake Mead, the Las Vegas Wash, and local groundwater conditions and storm water discharges.