Condo complex loses foutain bid

Thursday, Nov. 6, 2003 | 9:40 a.m.

The Clark County Commission rejected a request to keep water flowing at a condominium complex Wednesday -- but the condo complex manager said the rejection shows the flaws in the county's new water conservation plans.

Red Rock Park Condominiums, near Jones Boulevard and Sahara Avenue, has 60 condo units surrounding two lagoons, islands and fountains. The complex, however, has run afoul of the county's new water-use restrictions established in response to a four-year drought.

The commission voted 6-0 against the complex's request to keep its courtyard wet, judging that any exemption from the newly revised drought rules would set a bad precedent.

The new county rules bar everyone but casinos from keeping fountains and other "water features," excluding swimming pools, from running during the day.

Carol Alldredge, the condo manager, said homeowners are allowed to keep water features smaller than 200 square feet. The complex system of lagoons is, according to the county, about 7,500 square feet, or about 125 square feet per condo owner.

"We are 60 people who collectively own this waterfall," Alldredge said. "We feel we are being discriminated against. Why? Because we share common walls?"

The county rules allow water fountains and features to run between 1 and 4 a.m. to keep pumps working and water circulating. That won't work for Red Rock Park, she said.

The central lagoon is higher than other parts of the water feature. If the water circulators are turned off for even a short time, the water will flow to the bottom and then on to the sewer, Alldredge said.

With the system on, the water feature uses about 4,000 gallons a month. With it just running a few hours a day, the feature would use about 600,000 gallons monthly.

Despite the appeal, county staff had argued that the water feature should be turned off.

Vince Alberta, spokesman for the Southern Nevada Water Authority, said the policies adopted by the county and already or soon to be adopted by other regional governments need to be applied uniformly, even when the results aren't uniform.

If exemptions are allowed, he said, "Where do you stop?"