Conservation and the Future

            However, water conservation efforts will have to have further reaching results than just saving residents on bills or lower the gallons per capita per day rate. Despite all the water use reductions, the Las Vegas Valley is still demanding more water than the SNWA’s annual goals. Although they have brought down their gcpd, 223 gpcd is still very high in comparison to other cities. Even Phoenix, another desert city, has a gpcd of 184. Studies on the Colorado River show that currently the water delivery rate is 16.4 million acre-ft per year (MAFY). When the Colorado River Compact was signed, the agreed total amount of water diverted by all parties was 16.5 MAFY during a time when the delivery rate was 17.5 MAFY. Meaning the Valley's demands are contributing to draining 100,000 acre sq ft more water than the Colorado River can currently support. The distribution portions have not been brought up for discussion since 1922. The reality is there is more to do to bring the Las Vegas Valley water use down so that first off there isn’t a constant fear of water shortages, and secondly to get to a point where water levels are restorative to their sources.

This shows SNWA's estimation of water demand (9) without any conservation efforts and the organization's goals in lowering water demand. The black line shows the level of water demand that would occur if past habits continued into the future, and the red one where the SNWA would aims to have the water demand. Even though they have already reached their 2035 gpcd goal, the Valley's total water demand is still higher than their goal.

            The efforts specific to landscaping in the Las Vegas Valley guide residents to understanding topics important in conservation and to connect with the desert environment that they live in. Grass turfs and exorbitant water use can lead to a disillusionment of what kind of lifestyles are sustainable in a desert.  The Water Smart Landscaping Rebate Program has residents remake their lawns with native plants which in the process educates them about the habitat around them. With 25 million acres of converted lawn, whole communities can begin to see the inherent beauty of the desert and how living in cadence with it can be rewarding. Public awareness and display like this can put conservation into perspective and make it a feasible concept that is in accordance with their lifestyles. Since landscaping accounts for a large portion of water waste it is very encouraging that a previously wasteful trend can be altered and serve as beginning steps to comprehending conservation. It is important to note that the multifaceted approach of incentives, education, pricing, and regulation taken by the SNWA to curb consumptive water use has been instrumental to combining conservation principles with lowering water demands. Also the strong partnership within the SNWA amongst its seven water agencies, and with governmental institutions, coordinates actions so that enacting measures can be more effective. The SNWA would not be able to have a multifaceted approach if the resources they count on are not diverse themselves. This also makes for them being able to coordinate previously divided efforts around one unifying theme of conservation resulting in a more holistic approach to inspiring residents to get involved.

            Current initiatives in landscape conversions have improved water use, residents’ lives, and their connection to conservation, but efforts will have to be strengthened to curb the enormous strain on water resources. Last year, the Las Vegas Valley was lucky enough to have a snow fall that replenished Lake Mead enough to keep the water level right above the drought level. However, the Las Vegas Valley cannot continue to live right above emergency water levels, especially due to discretionary water use like landscaping. The SNWA has a greater chance of getting people on the same page about saving the environment if they help them understand how to live in their environment.