Friday, Dec. 13, 2019 | 2 a.m.
Powered by Las Vegas Valley Water District
In Southern Nevada, water waste is against the law. But what exactly is it? Allowing water to spray or flow off a property, failing to drain a swimming pool or spa into a public sanitary sewer and irrigating landscapes outside the mandatory seasonal watering schedule are all examples of water waste. These rules are determined by local water utility service rules and supported by city and county ordinances. Violating them could result in fines ranging from $40-$5,120, depending on the water utility, meter size and the number of documented violations. "The rules for water waste are pretty consistent throughout the Valley," said Summer Ortiz, water waste supervisor at Las Vegas Valley Water District. "We encourage all Southern Nevadans to avoid water waste and possible fines by simply checking their irrigation system monthly to make sure water is not spraying or flowing off the property."
Why prevent water waste
Southern Nevada's community-wide water reuse program reclaims and safely returns nearly all water used indoors back to Lake Mead so it can be used again. This sustainably extends water supplies for the community. However, water used outdoors is only used once. Reducing or eliminating outdoor water waste increases Southern Nevada's water efficiency, supports our community's water conservation initiatives and improves our quality of life. "As the driest city in the driest state, we all have an obligation to use our limited water resources as wisely as possible," Ortiz said. "I think we can all agree that water flowing off a property is not a responsible use of water."
Report water waste
"If you're driving down the street and see water shooting from a broken sprinkler or you get sprayed by your HOA's irrigation system while walking the dog, you can take a photo of the waste and submit to us," Ortiz said. The LVVWD and the City of Henderson have online tools that allow you to report a problem and upload images. "The more information you can provide about the time, date and location of the waste, the more likely our investigators can pinpoint the problem and notify the property owner," Ortiz said. Enforcement is handled by the municipal water agency servicing the property. For links to each water provider's online water waste forms and a list of phone numbers, visit snwa.com.
Water-saving steps
1. Cycle and soak. Grass in the desert needs several short soaking cycles about an hour apart. Try watering for 3 or 4 minutes at 8 a.m., 9 a.m. and then at 10 a.m. during winter.
2. Text CONSERVE to 85357 to receive a text reminder to change your irrigation clock each season.
3. Check your irrigation system after each mowing for any misdirected or broken sprinklers.
4. Look for signs of a leak, which can include pooling water or bubbles in your yard.
5. Avoid the use of narrow strips of lawn as well as grass in curving areas or on slopes.
Water waste enforcement
The LVVWD and local water providers have water waste investigators looking for water waste and following up on citizen reports. "At the Water District, we work to educate our customers first and if they do not fix the problem, they may get a fine," Ortiz said, noting that not repairing an irrigation system malfunction or leak within 48 hours also constitutes water waste. Fines for LVVWD residential customers begin at $80 and double with each violation; water waste fines for businesses are higher based on larger meter sizes. "The most common water waste violation we see is water spraying or flowing off the property due to an irrigation system issue. You can avoid fines by keeping the water on your property. It's that simple," Ortiz said.
Most water waste is caused by improper or inefficient landscape irrigation. "Just a few simple steps will make your irrigation system more efficient and help you avoid wasting water," Ortiz said. "First, make sure you're sticking to the mandatory seasonal watering schedule. You can find your assigned watering days and other irrigation tips at snwa.com."
