Southern Nevada Water Use Sees Increase in 2024, Reports Authority

Southern Nevada’s water consumption rose in 2024 despite conservation efforts, driven by weather conditions, according to the water authority.

Southern Nevada Water Use Sees Increase in 2024, Reports Authority
Southern Nevada Water Use Sees Increase in 2024, Reports Authority

Las Vegas: So, it turns out that even with homeowners converting a ton of grass to save water, Southern Nevada’s water use actually went up in 2024. The water authority shared this news recently, and it’s a bit surprising.

They say the weather played a big role in this increase. Colby Pellegrino, the deputy general manager, pointed out that last year was super wet and cold, which pushed up the demand for water.

To put it in perspective, the total water use hit 212,171 acre-feet. That’s enough to keep two single-family homes going for a year with just one acre-foot. Pretty wild, right?

Last year was also tied for the warmest on record in Las Vegas, with a whopping 112 days of triple-digit temperatures. Climate change is making things drier, which doesn’t help since Nevada is already the driest state.

Even though the water use went up by 25,300 acre-feet compared to 2023, it’s still below the state’s annual share from the Colorado River, which is 300,000 acre-feet. So, there’s that silver lining.

Interestingly, all the indoor water in Las Vegas gets recycled back to Lake Mead, which allows the community to use more than what they’re allocated. Pellegrino mentioned that even with the increase, last year’s water use was still lower than the average from 2021 to 2023, showing that conservation efforts are making a difference.

Speaking of conservation, there’s a law from 2021 that requires the removal of nonfunctional turf by 2026. This means that decorative grass that doesn’t serve a purpose has to go, and water agencies can’t help those who don’t comply.

However, homeowners aren’t included in this mandate, and the federal government recently chipped in $60 million to help people switch to water-smart landscaping. Pellegrino noted that some folks are still hesitant to ditch their grass, so the water authority is planning more targeted ads to encourage them.

But not everyone is on board with the turf removal. Laura McSwain, who leads the Water Fairness Coalition, argues that taking away green spaces could lead to higher temperatures in the valley. She’s concerned about the impact on the community and believes there are better ways to tackle water shortages.

McSwain questions why water use is rising if so much grass is being removed. She feels that while Nevada is doing well in conservation, it shouldn’t come at the cost of residents’ quality of life.

For more info, you can reach out to Alan Halaly at ahalaly@reviewjournal.com or follow him on X.

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