Editorial: Are we in a drought, or in denial?

Friday, Dec. 5, 2003 | 9:46 a.m.

When it comes to water in the Las Vegas Valley, there are two facts in glaring opposition to each other.

One, the water level at Lake Mead (our primary source of water) is down more than 70 feet and dropping. No one sees an end to the drought that has caused this continuing water loss.

Two, none of the governments in the Las Vegas Valley want to stop or even slow population growth, which is the fastest in the nation.

Given these two facts, it's a certainty that water looms as a genuine crisis. Having ruled out growth restrictions, conservation becomes the only course of action. The Southern Nevada Water Authority submitted a drought plan this year and asked all local governments to adopt and enforce it. Most residents have accepted the restrictions.

We wish the Las Vegas City Council was as accommodating. On Wednesday, it changed the drought plan at the request of some owners of commercial property. The businesses were allowed to keep their fountains and reflecting pools -- if they agree to save 50 times that much water through other conservation efforts.

Pat Mulroy, general manager of the Southern Nevada Water Authority, pleaded with the council to stay with the plan -- as an example for other municipalities and to the million-plus valley residents. Allowing ponds and fountains presents a terrible image when everyone else is being asked to conserve, and makes negotiating with other Western states for water extremely difficult, she said. The council overruled her 18 years of experience and blithely listened to the property owners instead.

We wonder who will forever monitor the businesses to guarantee that "50 times" figure. In our view, the businesses should have shut off their fountains and undertaken the other conservation efforts.