Where We Stand
Our New Normal
Water is a precious resource that our region cannot afford to waste. Research suggests that Southern Nevada will continue to experience more intense and longer drought conditions fueled by climate change, which has a direct impact on our water supply. Fueled by drought and a reduction in snowpack within the Colorado River Basin, Lake Mead’s water level has declined by more than 150 feet since the early 2000s. Drought also worsens water quality issues due to higher concentrations of nutrients and contaminants in the water, which has implications for water treatment systems and the health of natural ecosystems.
Leading by Example
Preparing for Increased Demand
The SNWA anticipates water demand may increase from 2018 to 2035 by 10 GPCD due to climate change and service system age. Reducing consumptive water use-- water that is evaporated and cannot be captured or recycled back into the local water cycle-- will be critical to meeting the County's 2035 conservation goal and ensuring sufficient water supplies for essential needs in the years ahead.
Leading by Example
Emissions Co-Benefits
Not only does reducing water usage preserve the natural resource, but it also reduces demand on the water treatment and distribution systems.
The water saved through SNWA's conservation programs also avoided more than 30,700 MTCO2e that would been emitted through pumping and treatment processes in 2023.
Next Steps for a Sustainable Water System
Explore the goals, strategies, and actions in the All-In Community Plan. Use the dropdown table to see the progress we've made towards implementing each action!
| Action | Description | Status |
1.1.A | Identify areas for targeted vegetation enhancement and restoration due to proximity to sensitive water resources. | |
1.1.B | Establish pilot projects to explore innovative technologies for removing pollutants from non-point source runoff. |
| Action | Description | Status |
1.2.A | Transition all public property to drought-resilient landscaping. | |
1.2.B | Establish an efficiency review policy and process for new, large water users that encourages efficient development and disincentivizes consumptive uses. | |
1.2.C | Expand existing guidebooks and training on incorporating drought tolerant green infrastructure onto existing properties. |
| Action | Description | Status |
2.1.A | Develop a program to transition industrial and commercial customers to efficient, dry cooling technologies. | |
2.1.B | Develop a program to transition industrial and commercial customers to efficient, dry cooling technologies. |
| Action | Description | Status |
2.2.A | Develop and implement uniform regional performance standards to help local jurisdictions evaluate water demands of planned development. | |
2.2.B | Develop tools and guidance for developers to estimate water demand of proposed projects and report results to local jurisdictions. |
| Action | Description | Status |
2.3.A | Train and incentivize building tradespeople to identify and repair water leaks. | |
2.3.B | Identify barriers to and implement solutions for participation in SNWA’s commercial and industrial Water Efficient Technologies program. |
| Action | Description | Status |
3.1.A | Align all jurisdictions’ water policies and programs with existing studies and water resource plans. | |
3.1.B | Ensure power grid redundancy for water and wastewater transmission systems. |
Leading By Example
Preserving and Conserving
The Southern Nevada Water Authority is working towards providing sufficient water to the community while promoting conservation and heat mitigation. In 2023, they launched the Tree Enhancement Program, which offers a "treebate" of $100 per tree to residential and commercial participants who install trees as part of their Water Smart Landscape (WSL) conversion project.
Between August 2023 and August 2025, the SNWA has supported nearly 7,000 new tree installations through the incentive, representing nearly 3 million square feet of new tree canopy!