Water issues to be discussed at conference

Friday, Oct. 15, 2004 | 9:48 a.m.

UNLV and the Nevada Water Resources Association will team up Tuesday to present a day of discussion about water issues affecting Southern Nevada.

"Sustainability of Southern Nevada's Water Resources: At What Cost?" will last into the evening at the Thomas & Mack Center. Panels will discuss the water issues' impact on the region's quality of life, the impact of climate on water supply, and the overall issue of how much water is needed to sustain the growing population of the region.

During the day, panels of experts on water, growth and development will discuss the issues. Beginning at 6:30 p.m., officials and academic experts will summarize and address the various topics in a session before the public. Registration for the day panels is $55, but the evening session is free and open to the public.

"Anytime you can have a discussion on the various water issues that affect this community or the water industry, that has tremendous value," said Vince Alberta, a spokesman for the Southern Nevada Water Authority, the water wholesaler for Las Vegas and the surrounding urban area. "If the community as a whole is more educated on water issues, it benefits everyone involved."

Donna Bloom, Nevada Water Resources Association executive director, said the symposium is directed not at water-industry and agency professionals, but at the general public.

"The water issues are so heavy right now," Bloom said. "There's so much controversy. Having an understanding of how these issues run and flow together is what we want to see."

The issues affecting Southern Nevada include the drought and its threat to Lake Mead, the primary source of water for the region; the growing population and the demands it is putting on the agencies that provide water; and the quest for more water from rural parts of Nevada, a move that could cost the Water Authority hundreds of millions, if not billions, of dollars.

"The goal is to identify the critical issues, the perspectives on those issues, and what we do or do not know about those issues," Bloom said.

The Nevada Water Resources Association hosts an annual conference in which water professionals throughout the state convene to discuss water issues.

For information, call the association at (775) 626-6428.