Thursday, April 25, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.
Southern Nevadans use three times the water during the hot summer than they do the rest of the year, but enough pipes and treatment plants aren't ready to deliver.
So as temperatures climbed into the 90s this week, the message to cut thirsty habits became urgent Wednesday as a group of government, business, and individual representatives kicked off its conservation campaign.
Las Vegas Valley growth continuing at a record pace combined with a system that cannot deliver enough water sets the scene for a hot, dry summer unless residents are willing to conserve, said Bill Martin, chairman of Southern Nevada 2000 Coalition.
During record-breaking temperatures last year, the valley managed to cut water demands by 9.4 percent, Martin said under the shade of a palo verde tree at John S. Park Elementary School, which converted its grass to desert landscape.
60 percent outdoors
Research shows that 60 percent of Southern Nevada home water use goes to outdoor watering, and half of that is wasted. And homes use an average 64 percent of the available water. Inside home use accounts for only 4 percent of the total.
Reducing lawn watering by two minutes a day saves 3,600 gallons a month for the average home. By law, after May 1 residents can't water lawns between noon and 7 p.m. (11 a.m. to 7 p.m. in North Las Vegas). The best times are between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m.
"This year the goal is saving 10 percent of water use," Martin said.
To help spread the word, ads in English and Spanish, posters, bill stuffers and enthusiastic community conservation ambassadors will try to reach every segment of the population, from school kids to senior citizens, he said.
Restaurants will be asked to display table-top signs asking customers to ask for water only it they'll drink it. A glass of water take four more glassfuls to clean.
And people won't stop hearing about water conservation come September. Another ad blitz is scheduled to help trim fall and winter water use.
Educating children
Architect Jack Zunino said he plans to work with the Clark County School District to help children become aware of their dry climate. He said he hopes that the lessons learned on conservation by students today will become practical activities to conserve water tomorrow.
For County Commissioner Paul Christensen, chairman of the Las Vegas Valley Water District Board, the need to cut back wasting water is critical. "If the reservoirs go down faster than delivery, stricter measures will be needed during the hottest days of summer," he said.
The Water District contacted those owning homes built before 1986 -- some 96,000 homeowners -- said Pat Mulroy, director of the Water District. So far, almost half have requested retrofits for faucets, toilets and showers, she said.
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