Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA)

Nevada is the first state in the nation to outlaw grass at existing non-single-family properties through a new law that prohibits use of Colorado River water to irrigate decorative grass by the end of 2026. The turf removal law targets nonfunctional grass in streetscapes, medians, parking lots and other areas not used for recreation in Southern Nevada. When fully enacted, … [Read more...] about Groundbreaking Law

A new law aimed at increasing water efficiency will help businesses conserve nearly 10 percent of Southern Nevada’s water supply. The law, Assembly Bill 356, prohibits the use of water delivered by Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) member agencies to irrigate decorative grass in streetscapes, medians, parking lots, and other areas where it does not serve a recreational or … [Read more...] about New Law Targets Turf in Southern Nevada

When mulling over the pros and cons of keeping its water-thirsty grass last year, the Sundial Drive Homeowner’s Association (HOA) surveyed its residents for input. The board was deciding whether to keep the grass and raise HOA fees to cover water and maintenance costs or replace the grass with a water-smart landscape. While some residents expressed strong support for keeping … [Read more...] about Sundial Drive HOA Avoided Fee Increase

For the past 30 years, the master-planned community of Summerlin® has set high standards for urban and residential development. A development of The Howard Hughes Corp.® (HHC), Summerlin is again leading by example as it creates a more sustainable, water-efficient community by replacing more than 120,000 square feet of grass along Summerlin Parkway and at residential community … [Read more...] about Summerlin Landscape Conversion Projects Save Water

What do boulders, beaches and pearls have in common? They are names of ConAm apartment complexes in Southern Nevada that have taken advantage of cash incentives offered by the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA). ConAm has received more than $161,000 for replacing grass with water-smart landscapes and replacing plumbing fixtures and appliances with high-efficiently … [Read more...] about Apartment Complexes Save

As severe drought conditions reduced water levels in Lake Mead — Southern Nevada’s primary water supply — the Sun City Anthem Homeowner’s Association (HOA) recognized that HOAs play an active role in helping Southern Nevada conserve water and began taking steps to decrease its community water use. Through a combination of replacing grass, upgrading irrigation controllers, and … [Read more...] about Sun City Anthem HOA

When a severe drought first hit the Colorado River basin in 2000, the Las Vegas Valley Water District (LVVWD) joined other local water agencies to invest in forward-thinking plans and programs to protect the community’s water resources. Engineering a deep-water solution, the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) and its member agencies, including the LVVWD, initiated the … [Read more...] about Las Vegas Valley Water District

Water quality researchers with the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) are pursuing a novel method to detect and monitor for the presence of the novel coronavirus in sewage wastewater. The high-tech detective work uses the emerging science of wastewater epidemiology to find and measure the genetic markers of the coronavirus in untreated sewage and better understand the … [Read more...] about Water Scientists Study Sewage

Ensuring the community has a clean, safe and reliable water supply even during emergencies takes planning and preparedness. The Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) and its member agencies have robust emergency response and readiness plans to help maintain water system operations during natural disasters, community-wide illness, and other emergency situations. “We test … [Read more...] about Emergency Readiness

Steve Swanson knows a thing or two about beautiful, water-smart landscapes. As the former superintendent at three Red Rock Country Club golf courses, he helped transform 135 acres of grass bordering the course into attractive, yet drought-tolerant, landscape. “As water rates increased, we had to look at how to make this a viable business. It was an easy decision for us from … [Read more...] about Landscape Upgrades

An increasing number of businesses in Southern Nevada are participating in rebate incentive programs that reduce water use and pay dividends through smaller water bills and reduced operation costs. These companies are finding small changes can reap big savings when they take advantage of the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) rebate incentives for businesses. Chief … [Read more...] about Businesses Investing in Technologies, Landscapes

McCarran Center Office Complex The “bathtub ring” around Lake Mead—indicating the high-water mark 130 feet above the current lake level—is a familiar sight for people living in Southern Nevada. For Leslie Shurmur, the ring not only serves as a reminder of decreasing water levels in the lake—the source of 90 percent of our community’s supply—but it also has taken on a … [Read more...] about Thomas & Mack Company Swims into Water Savings

As the Peccole Ranch Community Association (PRCA) began converting thirsty grass to water-efficient landscapes more than a decade ago, different areas within the community—flood channels, paseos, and greenbelts—began to harmonize like a symphony. “Instead of just pulling the grass off the walls, careful thought was given, within the restrictions of the 100-year flood … [Read more...] about Peccole Ranch Makes Beautiful Music

With the first declared shortage in the Colorado River’s history expected in 2020, the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) is offering greater financial incentives to businesses that implement water-efficiency measures. The not-for-profit water agency recently increased both the incentive amount for replacing turf with drip-irrigated plants and the number of square feet … [Read more...] about SNWA Water-Smart Programs