ASK MR. SUN:

Is the Las Vegas Valley Water District still looking for water wasters?

Tuesday, May 19, 2009 | 2 a.m.

Ask Mr. Sun

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Hey Mr. Sun,

I recently heard that the Las Vegas Valley Water District is preparing to shut down its water waste team and that the idea is that even wasted water is revenue. Can it be? Have they lost their minds?

•••

It’s true that the water police aren’t conducting as many investigations as they did a year ago.

According to Las Vegas Valley Water District data, officials averaged 670 investigations a month in Las Vegas and unincorporated Clark County during the first three months of 2009. By comparison, last year investigations per month exceeded 1,300.

It’s also true that the water utility’s revenue has declined during the economic downturn.

That doesn’t mean the agency has decided to allow off-day lawn sprinkler use and the wanton washing of cars in the street to make an extra buck, officials said.

J.C. Davis, a spokesman for the district and the Southern Nevada Water Authority, said the agency has, like most public agencies, been forced to trim its budget. Six interns and temporary employees who investigated water conservation-rule violators were let go.

The district’s four permanent investigators continue to hunt water wasters, but have also been occupied of late cross-training meter readers to pick up some of the slack from the vacant temp and intern positions, according to Davis.

“When you have limited water resources you can’t abandon conservation efforts,” Davis said. “We know it hits our revenue to sell conservation, but we still have to do it.”

Questions for Mr. Sun should be sent to page8@lasvegassun.com.

Discussion: 5 comments so far…

By yuccafriend

5/19/09 at 8:01 a.m.

Suggest removal

So double the price of water. Water is already so cheap here. When gas was $4.00 a gallon, everyone figured out how to cut back. Until it becomes painfull, no one is going to care. It the Water Dist. had enough money, maybe we would even get better treated water!
By Launce

5/19/09 at 12:21 p.m.

Suggest removal

JC's quote at the end perfectly captures the SNWA/LVVWD's true lack of enthusiasm for cracking down on water waste and abuse. Doing so would reduce their income - and would also irritate the fat cats who allow the Colorado River to run down the street.
Anybody who lives in this town sees water waste on a daily basis. But instead of sincere efforts to address the waste, the agencies plan to defoliate rural Nevada, Native American communities and Great Basin agriculture. Seems a bit unfair, no?
By RobM

5/19/09 at 1:03 p.m.

Suggest removal

According to SNWA the cheapest source of water is through conservation, so why are they cutting back on their water waste policing while racing to financial ruin with a multi-billion dollar ground water pipeline??
I personally have noticed this change in operations - now when I call the waste hotline I get a recording and have to leave the info to be followed up some later time, probably
long after the waste has stopped. Early on in the program you'd call and they'd have someone on it immediately, even on weekends.
The Clark County dust prevention program has immediately available enforcement officers, why not SNWA?
By chipwood

5/20/09 at 3:43 p.m.

Suggest removal

Increasing the price of water is the way to go, yuccafriend is right! If you looked at your water bill, you'd never know we live in a desert region that gets around 4" of rain a year. Double the rate, then communities and residents will stop watering their sidewalks and streets with potable water (hopefully).
By Jo_Anne_Garrett

5/20/09 at 3:58 p.m.

Suggest removal

Many years ago Pat Mulroy stated that "securing the instate resource" is the highest priority for SNWA, and that conservation would be the measure of last resort. This still seems to be the plan: lay claim to water by whatever means possible (it's the New Gold--you can't lose), while piously promoting a feeble pretense at conservation.