$1 billion seen for new pipeline

Jeffrey Libby

Friday, April 19, 2002 | 11:04 a.m.

The fix for clean drinking water in Southern Nevada could come in the shape of a $1 billion wastewater pipeline, Las Vegas Valley officials said Thursday.

That figure is up from just a year ago, when the Clean Water Coalition, with representatives from Clark County, Las Vegas and Henderson, floated the idea of a $100 million pipeline.

"We know we're going to get the public's attention with that kind of money," said Doug Selby, Las Vegas deputy city manager and a coalition member. "But it's what we consider the solution the valley has needed for years."

A combination of increased sewer rates and city and county bonds would pay the bill, officials said. They made their remarks at a Las Vegas Sun editorial board meeting.

But before a particular route is chosen for the pipeline, the coalition must conduct additional research, obtain public input and file an environmental impact statement with the state for review.

The coalition will also have to work with the Bureau of Reclamation and the Department of Interior in hopes of gaining permission to drill several miles of tunnel through the River Mountains between the valley and Lake Mead.

The goal of the pipeline is to have wastewater empty downstream of the freshwater intake on Lake Mead to improve water quality.

Today, 161 million gallons of treated wastewater empty into Las Vegas Wash. The wastewater then empties into Lake Mead -- often dirtier than when it left treatment plants -- about six miles upstream of the drinking water intake system on Saddle Island.

Water is treated before being pumped from the lake to homes.