Rl. Morris et al., URBANIZATION AND WATER CONSERVATION IN LAS-VEGAS VALLEY, NEVADA, Journal of water resources planning and management, 123(3), 1997, pp. 189-195
By the year 2010 southern Nevada, which is one of the fastest-growing
urban centers in the West, will have committed nearly 100% of its wate
r resources. Early in its history, Las Vegas developed a reputation fo
r high per capita water use compared to other major cities in the arid
West. This arose from a belief by its residents that the valley was s
ituated on an inexhaustible supply of water, enticements by the state
to drill wells for urban development, the attraction of tourists, and
a lack of enforcement of passed or existing laws. The first water cris
is in the 1940s was averted by allowing the principal aquifer to be ov
erdrafted. Overdrafting of the aquifer has led to geologic problems fo
r the valley and its residents. The second major water crisis was aver
ted in the 1970s by the increasing availability of Colorado River wate
r to area residents. Metering, local ordinances, research, and educati
onal programming are impacting water use by addressing the problems of
overdrafting and conservation.