Editorial: Water Authority plan requires high priority

Tuesday, July 22, 2003 | 9 a.m.

The valves underneath Lake Mead that draw water for our consumption historically have been deep enough to avoid a lot of the lake's contaminants pouring in from the Las Vegas Wash. This is because, as the water temperature drops with depth, a barrier is formed. This barrier between the warmer water nearer the surface and the colder, deeper water keeps most contaminants suspended well above the intake valves. Or at least that's the way it's always worked in the past.

Over the past three years, however, the water level has dropped so much because of the drought that the intake valves are nearer the surface than ever before. This means they are in danger of drawing warmer, contaminated water instead of the deep, cold, cleaner water. This could result in warnings that tap water is not as clean as it used to be. There could be serious health effects, particularly for people with weakened immune systems.

Fortunately, the Southern Nevada Water Authority is proposing an ingenious solution -- greatly extending the depth of the intake valves by attaching them to vertical cylinders made of heavy plastic. The cylinders would enable the valves to draw water from within 40 feet of the lake's bottom, ensuring that only the cleanest water makes it to the treatment plants that distribute water to Clark County's population. Preliminary estimates of the cost -- $5 million -- suggest the project is affordable. We hope the various federal agencies that must review the project, including the Army Corps of Engineers, assign it a high priority.