Las Vegas Valley Water District Report on water supply, October 1949

LAS VEGAS VALLEY WATER DISTRICT LAS VEGAS, NEVADA Report on Water Supply Greeley and Hansen, Engineers October, 1949 1. Introductory Las Vegas Valley has grown from a population in 1940 of less than 10,000 persons to a present population of over 30,000 persons. This growth has imposed great strains upon the water supply facilities of the area. A number of water supply systems serve the area, but only that of North Las Vegas is publicly owned and operated. Most of the area derives its water from artesian wells, and the artesian basin shows signs of approacing its maximum safe capacity. Recognizing that further development of the water supply can best be accomplished as a community ventur, the voters of Las Vegas Valley established the Las Vegas Valley Water District. The District in turn engaged the firm of Greeley and Hansen to study the water supply problems of the valley and to advise on the methods of solving these problems. 2. Statement of the Problem With the rapid growth of Las Vegas Valley, water supply development has lagged behind area development. Water supply improvements were provided at various intervals as needed but the supply is not now adequate to meet the peak demands. Seasonal water shortages are experienced. The first element of the problem is therefor the determination of the water quantity of water required now and for some reasonable time in the future. The artesian basin which supplies the largest part of the water in the area shows signs of having reached its maximum development. It is necessary to determine the amount of water now being withdrawn from this basin and whether or not further development is advisable. If further development of the artesian basin is not advisable, other sources of supply must be investigated. The problem then becomes: What other sources of supply are available? Since the water supply is not now adequate, improvements to the water supply are necessary. The determination of the type and extent of these improvements, together with estimates of their cost, are a part of this study. Finally, since the District is not now supplying water, estimates of the total annual cost for supplying water are necessary to the District for the establishment of rates. Discussion of these elements, recommendations and substantiating data are presented in the succeeding portions of this report.