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In previous blogs, I discussed factors that created a water crisis that global communities are grappling with. Though the situation is dire, and 663 million people lack access to safe drinking water, countries are becoming more proactive in instituting reforms. Because of strict regulatory policies, Switzerland, Norway, Luxemburg, and France have the cleanest drinking water in the world. Australia, Israel, Namibia, Singapore, and South Africa, incorporate water reuse into their water management programs for domestic, agricultural irrigation, and industrial purposes.
Southern Nevada, has the most comprehensive and progressive water programs in the United States. When Las Vegas was situated in the desert near Springs Preserve, approximately 4,000 gallons of water per minute flowed downhill toward the city. By the 1920s, the population grew so large that the spring couldn’t support its visitors. When the spring’s water stopped spurting from the ground, they started pumping. And, when the table continued to drop, valley residents tapped into the Colorado River hundreds of miles away.
The state signed the Colorado River Compact, dividing the river’s water among Nevada, California, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, and later Utah and Mexico. Las Vegas’s 100,000 residents benefited when The Hoover Dam was constructed in 1932, creating the Lake Mead Reservoir that for years provided them with plenty of water. But since that time, until today, water in the reservoir has been in continuous decline, causing political infighting and interim agreements. In 2022, the Federal government declared a water shortage for states dependent on the Colorado River. Some futurists predict Las Vegas will eventually be abandoned. Anticipating a crisis in 2020, the city began implementing policies to reduce water consumption. What they did pushed back their worries for the next twenty years. Some of the changes they made flow:
1) Las Vegas saved 55 gallons per square foot by converting turf grass on golf courses to drip-irrigated desert landscapes.
2) Swimming pool sizes, which were limited to 600 square feet in 2022, are expected to save more than 32 million gallons over the next 10 years.
3) Water flowing down the drain from all shows and faucets is treated at wastewater plants and recycled. The treated water is discharged and flows into Lake Mead until needed. Approximately 40 percent of water is continuously reused. MGM Resorts returns 75 percent of its water to Lake Mead. They train guests and staff to conserve.
4) Hotel guests are encouraged to reuse tools and bedding to reduce laundry volumes.
5) Hotels replaced grass landscapes with artificial turf and drought-tolerant plants.
6) 90 percent of the water of the Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay is reused.
7) Motels and newer homes collect rainwater from the roof and send it to cisterns where it is stored, treated, and used for cooling and other purposes.
8) Casinos now use Solar Energy to cut energy costs. Their buildings have become more energy efficient, they collect and monitor data and their staffs use less harsh cleaning supplies when performing custodial tasks.
9) Car washes are recommended because their water is recycled and they have high-pressure, low-volume equipment. No more than 10 gallons are allowed per car. Shut-off nozzles are required when using a hose to car wash at home.
Las Vegas residents and businesses are impressive in their efforts to reduce water consumption, yet a growing population and increased attractions continue to tax their water and sewage systems. If Lake Mead went dry, Las Vegas would lose access to 90 percent of its water, and though there may be enough drinking water, agricultural activities would come to a halt.
Nevada is one of many cities worldwide looking to alleviate water shortages. California dreams of getting water from the Great Lakes in the Midwest or the Columbia River on the West Coast. However, doing so would put these great bodies of water in the same situation as the Colorado River is today. With water scarcity an increasing challenge for the nearly 8.1 billion people inhabiting our planet, it behooves everyone on Earth to be conscious of how this critical resource is cared for.
What are you and your community doing to preserve water? Please share your thoughts.
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References:
Website: Ten Top Countries with the Healthiest Tap Water. Pentair Water Solutions. Retrieved from https://www.pentair.com/en-us/water-softening-filtration/blog/top-10-countries-with-the-healthiest-tap-water.html
Website. Draft National Water Reuse Action Plan: Appendix G. U.S> Environmental Protection Agency. Retrieved from https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2019-09/documents/water-reuse-2019-appendix-g.pdf
Website: Global Water Crisis Facts – 665 Million People Lack Access. waterisbasic.org. retrieved from: https://www.waterisbasic.org/?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw8J6wBhDXARIsAPo7QA_f2O0sNjpVF1oaI93uU9ZU27ISiskUqakY4fev5PaKI_find89QncaAgr9EALw_wcB
retrieved from: https://www.waterisbasic.org/?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw8J6wBhDXARIsAPo7QA_f2O0sNjpVF1oaI93uU9ZU27ISiskUqakY4fev5PaKI_find89QncaAgr9EALw_wcB
Website. Our Approach to Water Stewardship – MGM Resorts. retrieved from https://www.mgmresorts.com/en/company/esg/protecting-the-planet/water.html#:~:text=Water%20Efficient%20Guest%20Operations,water%20by%20reducing%20laundry%20volumes
Website Drought and Conservation Measures, Las Vegas Valley Water District. retrieved from https://www.lvvwd.com/conservation/measures/index.html