Town wrestles over use of waste water

Adrienne Packer

Thursday, May 28, 1998 | 10:15 a.m.

Few people know what happens to water after it swirls down the shower drain or rushes into the street gutter.

But in the arid Las Vegas Valley, waste water is a cherished liquid -- it's vital to golf course maintenance and for decorative fountains. And in Boulder City, it is a substance much of the town is grappling over.

The Nevada Division of Environmental Protection is reviewing the city's draft permit to discharge effluent water through pipes, or outfalls, that feed into two sand and gravel operations, a veterans cemetery and a wetlands park.

Boulder City differs from other valley communities because the town of 15,000 doesn't produce much wastewater. The city must determine who gets first dibs on the limited amount of water and how the rest is divided.

"The primary concern addressed is the prioritization of reused water," said Jennifer Carr, an officer with the state's environmental protection division. "The residents of Boulder City can only produce so much, once the water is treated and reused it's a finite amount."

While Boulder City makes money from businesses like Gornowich Sand and Gravel Pit and a gravel pit operated by ConStrux, it is also obligated to keep the state's largest veterans cemetery green.

"My concern is there is not enough water for all five outfalls," Boulder City resident Mary Shope Wiles said. "If there's not enough water, who gets it?"

During a recent public hearing, residents aired their concerns to environmental protection officials and asked that the Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery be first on the wastewater facility's list of priorities.

The state-funded cemetery signed a contract in 1996 with Boulder City to receive the community's wastewater. However, instead of effluent water -- partially treated wastewater -- the cemetery has received drinking water at a discounted price.

Some residents fear that if the permit doesn't require the city to funnel water to the veterans cemetery, most of the wastewater will be delivered to the gravel pit operations. The cemetery then would be left paying for the more expensive drinking water.

Wastewater users pay about 40 cents per 1,000 gallons while those who use pure water pay about $1 per 1,000 gallons. The cemetery uses about 100,000 gallons of water a day to maintain the lawn and landscaping.

"If the veterans don't want a drop of the effluent water and want to pay a higher price, that's OK," said Wiles, who is leading the citizens' crusade to get the cemetery water. "But let them make their own decision."

As a safety measure, water used to irrigate the cemetery will be about half effluent and half drinking water because people regularly sit and walk on the grass. Effluent water can cause illness if it's consumed.

Veterans cemetery Superintendent Jack Porrino said there is plenty of wastewater for the the state graveyard, which ultimately will grow to about 80 acres.

"There is no danger of us not getting the water," Porrino said. "Panic buttons are being pushed that shouldn't be pushed. There was a big issue to keep this place green and that's what we're going to do -- keep it green."

Carr said her division is reviewing comments made during last week's public hearing in Boulder City. The agency extended its public comment period from May until June 4.