Las Vegas Valley Water District
Encyclopedia
The Las Vegas Valley Water District (LVVWD) is a not-for-profit water supply agency that has been providing water to the Las Vegas Valley since 1954. The district helped build the area's water delivery system and now provides water to more than one million people in Southern Nevada.
Today the District provides water to the City of Las Vegas
, the unincorporated areas of Clark County
including Paradise
and Winchester
, where the major Las Vegas Strip
casino
s are located, Kyle Canyon, Blue Diamond
, Searchlight
, and Jean
.
The Clark County Commissioners serve as the Water District's board of directors. The board appoints the general manager, who carries out day-to-day activities.
District water rates are regulated by law and can cover only the costs of water delivery and the maintenance and building of facilities. Rates also are structured to encourage conservation with rates increasing with usage.
The Water District is a member agency of the Southern Nevada Water Authority
, (SNWA), a regional organization that works to secure water resources for the valley. SNWA also provides conservation programs for customers of member agencies.
The district also is steward to the Las Vegas Springs Preserve
, the historical home of Las Vegas' founding springs. The district is a partner in developing the preserve into a cultural resource center, featuring exhibits, trails, gardens and more. http://www.lvvwd.com/html/about_index.html
, which later became part of the Union Pacific Railroad. The company formed the Las Vegas Land and Water Company (LVL&W) in 1905 to sell land and provide water to Las Vegas' growing population. At that time, water came solely from wells and the Las Vegas Springs.
The Colorado River Compact
in 1922 allotted a small amount of Colorado River
water to Southern Nevada. That supply went largely unused until 1942, when Basic Management Inc. (BMI) in Henderson
began importing water from Lake Mead
for industrial purposes. The rest of the valley continued to rely on groundwater supplies.
By the mid-1940s, the small city of Las Vegas was facing a major water crisis. As population and water demand grew, city officials became more concerned about a dwindling groundwater supply.
Hoping to curb groundwater usage, the Nevada Legislature
created the Las Vegas Valley Water District in 1947 to begin using the state's Colorado River
allocation. The Union Pacific Railroad
agreed to sell LVL&W in 1952 and the Water District began operations on July 1, 1954.
The district's first major undertaking is one of the most important achievements in Southern Nevada's history: the district created facilities to bring water from Lake Mead to the valley. This relieved an ongoing water shortage for the city, but also helped create one of the world's most popular resort destinations and America's youngest major metropolitan area. http://www.lvvwd.com/html/about_history.html
Over the years, the district has built more than 3,000 miles of pipeline, created a reservoir system capable of storing 700 million gallons of water and implemented a sophisticated water-quality monitoring program. http://www.lvvwd.com/html/about_history.html
Today the District provides water to the City of Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
, the unincorporated areas of Clark County
Clark County, Nevada
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 1,375,765 people, 512,253 households, and 339,693 families residing within the MSA. The racial makeup of the MSA was 71.6% White , 9.1% Black, 5.7% Asian, 0.8% American Indian and 12.8% of other or mixed race. 22.0% were Hispanic of any race...
including Paradise
Paradise, Nevada
Paradise is an unincorporated town in the Las Vegas metropolitan area in Clark County, Nevada, United States. The population was 223,167 at the 2010 census...
and Winchester
Winchester, Nevada
Winchester is a census-designated place in Clark County, Nevada, United States that contains part of the Las Vegas Strip. It is one of a number of CDPs in the unincorporated urbanized area directly south of Las Vegas. The population was 26,958 at the 2000 census. It is governed by the Clark County...
, where the major Las Vegas Strip
Las Vegas Strip
The Las Vegas Strip is an approximately stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard in Clark County, Nevada; adjacent to, but outside the city limits of Las Vegas proper. The Strip lies within the unincorporated townships of Paradise and Winchester...
casino
Casino
In modern English, a casino is a facility which houses and accommodates certain types of gambling activities. Casinos are most commonly built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships or other tourist attractions...
s are located, Kyle Canyon, Blue Diamond
Blue Diamond, Nevada
Blue Diamond is a census-designated place in Clark County, Nevada, United States. The population was 282 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Blue Diamond is located at .-Demographics:...
, Searchlight
Searchlight, Nevada
Searchlight is an unincorporated town in Clark County, Nevada, at the topographic saddle between two mountain ranges.-History:According to Nevada Senator Harry Reid, who has written extensively about his hometown, the most likely story as to how the town received its name was when George Frederick...
, and Jean
Jean, Nevada
Jean is a small commercial town in Clark County, Nevada, located approximately north of the Nevada-California state line along Interstate 15. Las Vegas is located about to the north...
.
The Clark County Commissioners serve as the Water District's board of directors. The board appoints the general manager, who carries out day-to-day activities.
District water rates are regulated by law and can cover only the costs of water delivery and the maintenance and building of facilities. Rates also are structured to encourage conservation with rates increasing with usage.
The Water District is a member agency of the Southern Nevada Water Authority
Southern Nevada Water Authority
The Southern Nevada Water Authority was formed in 1991 to manage Southern Nevada's water needs on a regional basis. The Authority comprises seven member agencies including the City of Henderson, City of Las Vegas, City of North Las Vegas, Big Bend Water District , Clark County Water Reclamation...
, (SNWA), a regional organization that works to secure water resources for the valley. SNWA also provides conservation programs for customers of member agencies.
The district also is steward to the Las Vegas Springs Preserve
Las Vegas Springs Preserve
Las Vegas Springs Preserve consists of dedicated to nature walks and displays and is owned and operated by the Las Vegas Valley Water District. The Preserve is located approximately three miles west of downtown Las Vegas, Nevada...
, the historical home of Las Vegas' founding springs. The district is a partner in developing the preserve into a cultural resource center, featuring exhibits, trails, gardens and more. http://www.lvvwd.com/html/about_index.html
History
In the early 1900s, Las Vegas was a hub for the San Pedro, Los Angeles and Salt Lake City RailroadLos Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad
The Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad was a rail company that completed and operated a railway line between its namesake cities, via Las Vegas, Nevada. Incorporated in Utah in 1901 as the San Pedro, Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad, the line was largely the brainchild of William Andrews Clark,...
, which later became part of the Union Pacific Railroad. The company formed the Las Vegas Land and Water Company (LVL&W) in 1905 to sell land and provide water to Las Vegas' growing population. At that time, water came solely from wells and the Las Vegas Springs.
The Colorado River Compact
Colorado River Compact
The Colorado River Compact is a 1922 agreement among seven U.S. states in the basin of the Colorado River in the American Southwest governing the allocation of the water rights to the river's water among the parties of the interstate compact...
in 1922 allotted a small amount of Colorado River
Colorado River
The Colorado River , is a river in the Southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, approximately long, draining a part of the arid regions on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains. The watershed of the Colorado River covers in parts of seven U.S. states and two Mexican states...
water to Southern Nevada. That supply went largely unused until 1942, when Basic Management Inc. (BMI) in Henderson
Henderson, Nevada
-Demographics:According to the 2000 census, there were 175,381 people, 66,331 households, and 47,095 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,200.8 people per square mile . There were 71,149 housing units at an average density of 892.8 per square mile...
began importing water from Lake Mead
Lake Mead
Lake Mead is the largest reservoir in the United States. It is located on the Colorado River about southeast of Las Vegas, Nevada, in the states of Nevada and Arizona. Formed by water impounded by the Hoover Dam, it extends behind the dam, holding approximately of water.-History:The lake was...
for industrial purposes. The rest of the valley continued to rely on groundwater supplies.
By the mid-1940s, the small city of Las Vegas was facing a major water crisis. As population and water demand grew, city officials became more concerned about a dwindling groundwater supply.
Hoping to curb groundwater usage, the Nevada Legislature
Nevada Legislature
The Nevada Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Nevada. The Legislature is a bicameral body, consisting of the lower house Nevada Assembly, with 42 members, and the upper house Nevada Senate, with 21 members. All 63 members of the Legislature are elected from an equal amount of...
created the Las Vegas Valley Water District in 1947 to begin using the state's Colorado River
Colorado River
The Colorado River , is a river in the Southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, approximately long, draining a part of the arid regions on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains. The watershed of the Colorado River covers in parts of seven U.S. states and two Mexican states...
allocation. The Union Pacific Railroad
Union Pacific Railroad
The Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....
agreed to sell LVL&W in 1952 and the Water District began operations on July 1, 1954.
The district's first major undertaking is one of the most important achievements in Southern Nevada's history: the district created facilities to bring water from Lake Mead to the valley. This relieved an ongoing water shortage for the city, but also helped create one of the world's most popular resort destinations and America's youngest major metropolitan area. http://www.lvvwd.com/html/about_history.html
Over the years, the district has built more than 3,000 miles of pipeline, created a reservoir system capable of storing 700 million gallons of water and implemented a sophisticated water-quality monitoring program. http://www.lvvwd.com/html/about_history.html