Las Vegas drinking water meets fed standards

By Emily Richmond (contact)

Friday, June 15, 2001 | 11:21 a.m.

The drinking water in Las Vegas meets or surpasses federal standards set by the Safe Water Drinking Act, according to a report to be released today by the Las Vegas Valley Water District.

Still, some residents say it's the unpleasant taste -- not concerns about safety -- that keeps them from tapping into the valley's water supply.

"I don't like the way it tastes or the way it smells," said Lee Lorren, who was stocking up at the Water Place on Green Valley Parkway. "I'm not running away from it. I'll drink tap water at restaurants, but I definitely prefer the bottled stuff."

J.C. Davis, spokesman for the Las Vegas Valley Water District, said his organization publishes the annual report on water quality not only to satisfy federal requirements but to inform customers, as well. Davis said he is concerned some residents may be buying high-priced water filtration systems for their homes that aren't really necessary.

"Some salesmen use scare tactics," Davis said. "It's hard to get someone to buy a $2,000 system on the merit that the water tastes better. You need to have a more convincing argument than that, and saying the water isn't safe works."

Las Vegas does have some of the "hardest" water in the country, he said. As the Colorado River heads toward Lake Mead it picks up runoff from the Rocky Mountains. But that doesn't mean the water isn't drinkable, he said.

"Taste and actual quality in terms of purity are two very different things," Davis said.

The study gives the valley's water good marks on nitrate, lead, copper and chromium. The overall results essentially mirrored those of last year, with less than 1 percent of the water testing positive for coliforms. The maximum amount of lead found in the water samples was 4 parts per billion, less than a third of the 15 parts per billion allowed under federal law.

Larry Paulson, a former biology professor at UNLV and an activist on issues relating to water quality, said residents are understandably wary of the region's water. Self-monitoring by the water district isn't enough, he said.

"We are the entertainment capital of the world, but we have a third-world environment in Lake Mead," Paulson said.

Paulson said the prolonged algae bloom that has covered Lake Mead for nearly four months also is cause for concern. The algae, though unpleasant, isn't hazardous, according to the Southern Nevada Water Authority. Officials are keeping a close watch on the bloom to ensure a more toxic, blue-green species doesn't sprout.

The lake accounts for 80 percent of the area's supply, and the water district serves more than 1.4 million customers in the valley.