Agency opposes water recycling at homes

Return less to Lake Mead, it says, and we’ll get less out

By Alexandra Berzon (contact)

Monday, April 13, 2009 | 2 a.m.

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Assembly Bill 363

Southern Nevada Water Authority

Last Resort?

In Las Vegas, water used indoors travels a continuous loop.

From homes, water flows to a treatment plant, which sends it back to Lake Mead. Then an equivalent amount is pumped from the lake, and the 12-mile journey to treatment plants and Southern Nevada’s taps begins again.

The Southern Nevada Water Authority wants that system preserved because it allows Las Vegas to consume more than its annual 300,000-acre-foot allotment from the Colorado River. Water returned to the lake converts to credits that the Water Authority can use to pump more water from the lake.

But some homeowners, builders and environmentalists watching this continuous loop wonder: Why not shorten the distance water travels by allowing homes to keep and recycle the water they use — what’s known as graywater? Water from sinks, showers and washing machines could be reused to more efficiently and cheaply water lawns or other landscaping, they say.

Building codes in Clark County don’t allow household graywater recycling.

The water authority, after studying the idea, decided this year to make it official policy to oppose it.

The debate over how and where water recycling should occur, in a region with a diminishing supply, flared up last week in Carson City during debate on Assembly Bill 363, which would allow household graywater recycling. Beyond questions of energy efficiency and water conservation, the debate came down to the concept of property: Once a household uses water, who owns it?

“People paid for that water and I think they should be allowed to do with it what they wish,” said Launce Rake, spokesman for the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada.

Rake said he supports on-site graywater recycling because it would cut down on considerable energy use for treatment plants and pumping, and save the water that gets lost in the journey to and from Lake Mead. It’s wasteful to use drinking water — a precious resource — on lawns and landscaping, he said.

Such views are part of a nationwide trend toward graywater use.

“Potable water is really highly valued water,” said Peter Gleik, president of the Pacific Institute. “You’ve spent a lot of money cleaning it up and you should use it for high-value things.”

Such a view also has a populist appeal.

As an experiment a couple of years ago, Southwest Homes President Todd Slusher reworked the pipes beneath a trailer in Pahrump and rerouted the graywater tank so that it watered a 2,000-square-foot plot of plants and grass. The trailer’s resident rarely had to pick up a hose.

Slusher figured a similar system could be a popular feature on the new homes he builds. An investment of a couple of hundred dollars could cut water bills by 60 percent to 70 percent, he estimated. It would also protect home buyers if water were to become a lot more expensive than it is now, the homebuilder said.

But the water authority contends that’s the problem. What’s the incentive for residents to curb consumption if their water bills drop? water officials argue. Even more water would be drawn from Lake Mead, without returning.

“It doesn’t help us stretch the existing allocation out of the river,” water authority spokesman Bronson Mack said.

In addition, the cleanliness of graywater is questionable, he said.

“The quality of graywater is very, very, very low,” Mack said. “Just look at the back of your shampoo bottle or what’s in laundry detergent.”

Graywater recycling proponents insist the water has been proven to be safe.

Graywater recycling is popular in some places that don’t have municipal recycling systems for potable water. Tucson, for example, will by 2010 require that new developments be plumbed to allow graywater use.

And the water authority supports residential graywater recycling in rural areas outside of Las Vegas where water doesn’t flow back to Lake Mead.

Policy in Las Vegas has moved in the opposite direction. In December the water authority board voted to approve a recycling policy that prohibits graywater systems in the Las Vegas Valley. That proposal was recommended by the Clean Water Coalition after the organization studied graywater policy in other states.

County Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani’s vote against that policy was her last as a member of the water authority board. She then promoted a state bill to allow graywater recycling.

Drafted by Assemblywoman Sheila Leslie, D-Reno, AB363 requires the state Health Board to adopt regulations allowing residential graywater recycling.

Testifying last Monday in Carson City before the Assembly Health and Human Services Committee, Giunchigliani said the bill would save water and energy, and create green jobs.

Environmentalists testified in support of the bill. Water authority representatives opposed it.

The bill wasn’t voted out of committee last week, a deadline for bills to advance, and the idea appears unlikely to proceed.

At the hearing, Assemblyman John Hambrick, R-Las Vegas, asked Sen. Terry Care, D-Las Vegas, a co-sponsor of the bill, if the use of graywater would decrease water returned to Lake Mead.

Care replied that he was interested in helping Las Vegans reduce their water bills, which is their right.

Sun reporter Mary Manning contributed to this story.

Discussion: 12 comments so far…

By paplikaplik

4/13/09 at 6:55 a.m.

Suggest removal

"But the water authority contends that's the problem. What's the incentive for residents to curb consumption if their water bills drop? water officials argue. Even more water would be drawn from Lake Mead, without returning."

I'm pretty sure that the water authority will do what every other utility does when they're not pulling in enough revenue due to recycling or other conservation efforts: raise the rates.
By bdover

4/13/09 at 7:17 a.m.

Suggest removal

I'm sick and tired of lugging water bottles from the Super Market. But I can't stand the "approved" water coming out of the faucets here.

Just remember the response of Howard Hughes in the 60's when he asked how people could live here in such a harsh desert environment. The utilities response was that "We can take all the waste water, turds and all, and treat it, and send it to Lake Mead. And then use it again". His response?

"Wow, it's like a round trip sewer system." And he was right. Agree, Patty Mulroy?"
By 2zero

4/13/09 at 7:30 a.m.

Suggest removal

It was not to long ago Pat Mulroy (SNWA) was taking about how the the new mega hotel casinos were conserving water by using graywater for their landscapes and ponds.

Good idea for the Mirage & TI bad idea for you and I?

Here is a novel concept, use your "own" gray water for your yard and let the black water get treated and reused on golf courses!

Nothing returns to the lake!

Then when you drink tap water it might not taste, as much, like your neighbors "piss" including his/her pharmaceuticals.
By 2zero

4/13/09 at 9:33 a.m.

Suggest removal

"would the use of gray water decrease the amount of (used shower & sink) water returned to Lake Mead"?

How about the real question....would not every drop of gray water used on yards, reduce the amount of water drawn out of Lake Mead that is treated, pumped and distributed through expensive tanks and pipes?????

No brainer folks!
By Socrates

4/13/09 at 12:18 p.m.

Suggest removal

This is simply a liquid ponzi scheme that allows the water authorities to sell the same water over and over again. There is no other logical reason for it.

If "return flow credits" were so wonderful, any community with a sewage treatment plant could feed the output right back into their drinking water supply. Why should we be forced to do it here?

Let your elected officials know that you demand water equality! If you bought it once, it should be yours to use again as long as it is safe to do so, just like the casinos do.

After air, water is the most necessary substance to our survival. It's time to stand up for our rights....or lose them forever.
By Launce

4/13/09 at 1:12 p.m.

Suggest removal

2zero is right. The industrial users - casinos and golf courses - are allowed to use graywater and recycled water because it saves them money and energy.
Residents are not allowed to save money and energy, because the SNWA sees them as profit centers, not corporate partners.
The tragedy is that this community could save huge amounts of energy by allowing such systems. We said it over and over - this is not a water bill. It is an energy bill. And once again, the SNWA reveals its real attitudes towards conservation and the environment with its opposition to this sensible idea.
By Angry_Reader

4/13/09 at 2:19 p.m.

Suggest removal

Maybe people living in a desert should just not have lawns?
By mcmc_john

4/13/09 at 2:34 p.m.

Suggest removal

Who cares about the greywater problem?

It is hard to listen to all the double talk that emanates from the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA). The real truth is the SNWA will have to file for water bankruptcy by 1212 and financial bankruptcy by 2010 whether we use greywater or not

... and then the lady-in-charge (Pat Mulroy) will turn around a blame her favorite other woman (Mother nature).

Truth is that Nevada has 300,000 acre feet a year allotted for their use from the Colorado River Treaty. SNWA needs almost 600,000 acre feet per year to supply the water needs for 2 million people in Clark County. Simply math will tell you we are screwed... oh wait lets use the Bernard Madoff accounting system with a little Las Vegas flair added to it by the SNWA. "Give us your greywater and we will sell it back to you" How stupid do they think we are... oh I just learned we are already buying our old water back from them... sorry...

So there is no way the SNWA can allow anyone to recycle their own greywater ... that would stop the madness in their system, back up sewage and limit them from reselling you your own water again, and again, and again....
By will_lv

4/13/09 at 10:31 p.m.

Suggest removal

I little trick to get better tasting water from the faucet, use the hot water side.
The hot water heater boils out the elements that makes the water taste funny leaving you with the same water you get from the 25 cent dispenser.
By Derek

4/14/09 at 9:33 a.m.

Suggest removal

Yes, an interesting article--Thank you Alexandra! While grey water recycling is somewhat controversial, there are some fairly straight forward alternatives. Analyzing the monthly timing of the rainfall in the Vegas-Henderson area, allows for the potential to store rainfall locally underground and re-use for drip irrigation. Depending on lot size and landscaping a 2,000 gallon tank can be justified. [Assume 7,800sf lot; 4in annual rainfall; 60% collection, results in 10,000 annual gallons of rainfall. Assume store 20% continuously, equals 2,000 gallon tank]. A 4ft x 24ft (circular) culvert for rain water storage, will hold 2,200 gallons and costs approximately $1,500. Secondary drip irrigation controls and valves can be used to access stored rainfall.

My current lot drip irrigation needs are 50 gallons per watering day and 175 annual watering days. This results in an annual need of 8,750 gallons. At current valley utility billing rates of approximately $1.50/1000 gallons, my annual bill for outside watering is less than $15 (trivial).

The rain water storage tank is expensive, but it can certainly offset the total water consumed (and recirculated) from Lake Mead. Frankly, very little of the water that falls on my lot actually makes it to Lake Mead (except during deluges). The local storage and use of rainwater can make sense even here in Vegas and Henderson, it's just is not economical--at present!
By ervin

4/14/09 at 9:42 p.m.

Suggest removal

Water in Vegas is cheap compared to water in Fort Worth Tx, Policy- set price per cu. ft. coming in plus, set price per cu. ft. going out. Did I mention the rain water run off fee, set price per sq. ft. of your property that is covered by anything, house, walkways,garage,driveway, pool,sheds,if it aint green grass you pay every month.What if it doesnt rain you say? You still pay. Did I mention the mandatory recyle? All on your monthly water bill,VEGAS HERE I COME.
By Harley

4/15/09 at 2:12 a.m.

Suggest removal

The EPA, Environmentalists and the SNWA all advocate graywater usage.

Graywater is a more efficient use of our resources, while potentially offering economical benefits to the consumer.

The potable water saved through graywater utilization could simply be diverted to broadening our diversified commercial and industrial economic base.

Opposing residential graywater usage by the local water CARTEL known as the 'clean water coalition' whose function appears to be controlling water prices and manipulating nonsensical policies through SNWA targeted at disserving environmentalists, the EPA and the best interests of rate paying water consumers as well as efficient use of our precious water resources as this article has aptly points out, is criminal.

What's there to debate about AB363?

AB363 should be passed, NRS 277 abolished, and the 'clean water cartel' dissolved.

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