Las Vegans asked to cut water use after treatment plant shutdown

Saturday, Feb. 22, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

Southern Nevada Water System officials said the Alfred Merritt Smith Water Treatment Facility at Lake Mead was shut down early Saturday after two pumping stations were damaged by flooding due to an equipment malfunction.

The pumping stations deliver treated water into a pipeline that takes water to the Las Vegas Valley, and no additional water can be sent to valley reservoirs until the problem is fixed.

System officials asked all major water users, including local hotels, golf courses, parks and the school district, to stop all outdoor water use until further notice.

Local residents also were asked to stop all outside watering and to limit indoor water use until further notice.

Crews began repair work on the pumping stations Saturday afternoon and were confident that at least one would be back on line by Sunday morning.

Officials said the flooding involved only treated water and the quality of the valley's water supply was not in jeopardy.

Officials were bringing wells on line to add water reserves to valley reservoirs. The district relies on wells to help with peak summer demand.