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Belts, Suspenders and Safety Pins: How America’s Driest City is Preparing for an Uncertain Future. John J. Entsminger, General Manager www.snwa.com. Southern Nevada: A Snapshot. Approximately: 8,000 square miles 2 million residents 40 million annual visitors 4 inches annual rainfall.
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Belts, Suspenders and Safety Pins: How America’s Driest City is Preparing for an Uncertain Future John J. Entsminger, General Manager www.snwa.com
Southern Nevada: A Snapshot • Approximately: • 8,000 square miles • 2 million residents • 40 million annual visitors • 4 inches annual rainfall
What We Do: Facility construction Conservation programming Regional water supply planning Water Quality Operate Major Regional Facilities 3
Southern Nevada relies on Colorado River resources to meet 90 percent of its water demands.
Nevada receives 300,000 acre-feet of Colorado River water annually.
Beginning in 1999, the Colorado River Basin has been experiencing severe drought conditions.
The drought has had devastating impacts to Lake Mead’s water elevations. July 2010 Elevation: 1,087 ft. January 2000 Elevation: 1,214 ft.
Ongoing, persistent drought projections anticipate that reservoir elevations will remain low. Elevation Probabilities 2015 2050 2020 2040 2045 2055 2060 8
What does lowered Lake Mead elevations mean for Southern Nevada? Access to water supplies Access lost at 1,000 feet – currently at 1,085 feet Compromised water quality Additional treatment costs Additional power costs New facility or facility upgrade costs Supplemental resource costs Loss of operational flexibility Note: Analysis done using Historical Hydrology only
Lake Mead Intake Profile Intake 1 Intake 2
What We’re Doing: Working with Colorado River partners Securing temporary and long-term supplies Safeguarding our access Reducing Demands
Southern Nevada has been diligent in its conservation efforts.
Development codes Landscape rebates Watering restrictions Fixture retrofit kits Water audits Car wash coupons Efficient irrigation programs Water Efficient Technologies Pool cover rebates Water Smart Contractor program Water Smart Home program Water Upon Request program Water Conservation Coalition Water Smart Innovations Conference Conservation Helpline Demonstration Gardens H2O University Water waste investigations
Southern Nevada consumptively used about 32 billion gallons less water in 2013 than in 2002, despite annual population increases and millions of annual visitors. Population Water Use (Acre-feet) 2 mil 1.9 mil 1.8 mil 1.7 mil 1.6 mil 1.5 mil 14
Since Water Smart Landscapes Program inception: • $205 million invested to date • 78 billion gallons saved • 170 million square feet of turf converted* *Southern Nevada has removed enough grass for a roll of sod to extend 86 percent of earth’s circumference! (Approximately 25,000 miles) 15
What We’re Doing: Working with Colorado River partners Securing temporary and long-term supplies Safeguarding our access Reducing Demands
Since the onset of the drought, the seven Colorado River Basin states have been cooperatively addressing river issues: • Coordinated operations of the system’s two major reservoirs • Shortages • River augmentation • Environmental issues
Protecting river supplies remains a priority for the Basin States: • System Conservation programs • Weather modification efforts • Conservation and resource opportunities with the country of Mexico
The United States also began working with Mexico to address basin-wide concerns. 1944 Water Treaty (US-Mexico) MINUTE 318 Mitigated earthquake impacts – stored water in one country on behalf of another. • MINUTE 319 • Creates pilot program to replenish Colorado River Mexican Delta wetlands and outlines conditions for delivery reductions among the countries 19
What We’re Doing: Working with Colorado River partners Securing temporary and long-term supplies Safeguarding our access Reducing Demands
Temporary water supplies will meet interim demands until more permanent supplies are developed. • Arizona Water Bank • California Water Bank • Southern Nevada Water Bank • Virgin and Muddy River Tributary Conservation and Imported ICS • Brock Reservoir ICS • Yuma Desalting Plant • Extraordinary Conservation ICS • Binational ICS Virgin River, Nevada
A water supply separate from the drought-stricken Colorado River is necessary. Groundwater Development Project alignment
What We’re Doing: Working with Colorado River partners Securing temporary and long-term supplies Safeguarding our access Reducing Demands
The SNWA is constructing a third intake in Lake Mead to access the deepest part of the lake. Intake 1 1,050 Feet Intake 2 1,000 Feet 860 Feet Intake 3
Intake No. 3 • Replaces capacity in the event declining lake levels render Lake Mead Intake No. 1 inoperable • Accesses water of best quality (deepest part of lake) • Construction started 2008; to be finished in 2015 New Intake Site
Discharge Pipeline Major Project Components • $817 million, all locally funded • 3 shafts • (Up to 30 ft. diameter and 600 ft deep) • 4 miles of tunnel • (Up to 20 ft in diameter) • A 100-ft tall steel and concrete intake structure on the lake bottom Intake Structure Intake Tunnel Access Shafts Pumping Station Connector Tunnel Water Treatment Plant Intake 1 Intake 2 Connection Intake 2
Tunnel Boring Machine Irreparable Cutter Discs Worn Cutter Disc Cutter Discs
Cement trucks for intake structure placement Intake structure
Intake Structure Installation February and March 2012 Total Tremie Concrete = 11,300 cy
Lake Mead Intake No. 3Current Progress – August 2014 Completed Jul 2014 Completed Mar 2012 Completed Jun 2010 Current Tunnel Progress - 77% INTAKE STRUCTURE INTAKE TUNNEL ACCESS SHAFTS (Complete) CONNECTOR TUNNEL WATER TREATMENT FACILITY INTAKE 1 INTAKE 2 INTAKE 2 CONNECTION
It will take a suite of tools to minimize Southern Nevada’s drought risks. • When these tools are used in concert, Southern Nevada will enjoy reliable water supplies for years into the future.