Editorial: Drought is upon us: Save water

Monday, Jan. 13, 2003 | 8:46 a.m.

The whole West is entering another year of drought and the timing couldn't be worse for Southern Nevada. Because California water purveyors could not agree on a conservation plan, the federal government ordered an end to all consumption of so-called "surplus" water from the Colorado River. The ruling, imposed this month, will cost Nevada 30,000 acre-feet of water a year, a 10 percent reduction. With the drought estimated to reduce available water by another 5 percent, the message for water users is that they should immediately cut back by at least 15 percent. The most important group of water users to hear, understand, and act on conservation is homeowners.

While it's easy for homeowners to cast blame on water amenities at casinos, public parks, upscale developments and even gas stations, the hard truth is that 65 percent of water drawn from Lake Mead is used by homeowners themselves. Consequently, conservation at the homeowner level is emerging as the No. 1 priority for water suppliers such as the Las Vegas Valley Water District. There are proposals in place to restrict water use associated with ornamental fountains, commercial "misters," golf courses, and roadside landscaping -- and they should be adopted. But none can compare with the potential for conservation represented by homeowners.

Many homeowners around the valley are swapping their front and side lawns for desert landscaping and many others are adjusting their sprinklers to prevent runoff into the streets. We encourage all homeowners to follow such examples. If we conserve we can avoid the severe water restrictions experienced in other Western cities -- not to mention the high prices always associated with heavy demand and low supply.