Las Vegas Water Supply

Benoit Debaix - Unsplash

I am regularly asked about whether Las Vegas is running out of water. Is Las Vegas’ water supply secure in the short term? Yes. Below is a quote from this article

But Las Vegas’ water won’t be affected. The water authority wisely built an intake valve into the bottom of the lake years ago. If you don’t believe my optimism, take it from John Entsminger, the SNWA’s [Southern Nevada Water Authority] general manager. He called Las Vegas “the most water-secure municipal area in the Colorado River Basin.”

However, if the water level falls significantly lower, the Hoover dam will not generate as much electricity as today. Fortunately, Las Vegas is one of the only major cities in the US with dual electric power sources: Hoover Dam and California. However, I suspect our utility bills may increase if we buy more power from California.

What is the long-term water situation? Below is an article I wrote on the water situation.

Around 1890, research showed that the water supply would limit the LA population to about 400,000. Everyone agreed; end of the story. Then William Mulholland, head of the LA water district, proposed building the Los Angeles Aqueduct. A 233-mile-long system to move water from Owens Valley to the San Fernando Valley. Today, the Los Angeles Aqueduct supplies a lot of LA’s water.

About 15 years ago, a study estimated the cost to build a pipe from Las Vegas to a location in Northern Nevada where there is sufficient water at about $2B. However, whether the cost is $2B, $4B, or $20B does not matter. The Resorts World Casino alone cost over $7B to build. No one will shut down a trillion-dollar business (Las Vegas) for a few billion dollars.

One of our clients works for the local water company. I asked him about water usage in the Las Vegas valley and learned that about 80% of the total water consumed is for irrigation in private homes, mostly watering grass. When the water situation gets sufficiently dire, the water company will increase prices, and the lawns will disappear. Grass in the Mojave Desert makes no sense.

What do others think? We have a lot of major projects under construction in Las Vegas; the total is over $22B. All these companies did their homework on the water supply and other potential issues before committing so much money. I trust their research.

In summary, Las Vegas’ water supply is secure for the foreseeable future. Long term, the water need will be met. How it will be met will be resolved in the future.