“Pat Mulroy (Former LVVWD/SNWA General Manager) allocated surplus of actual wet water, and Entsminger (Current General Manager LVVWD/SNWA) is allocating shortages created on paper. Water goes to plants, and some is evapo-transpired to grow the plant, and some goes to ground water recharge and some to runoff, but the vast majority is transpired to the air and moves on as part of the hydrologic cycle. In a greenhouse we gather the transpired water and recycle it back to the plants, so we reduce the overall water requirements.
There is also technology to capture the transpired water from the air and reuse it again. A fully efficient system for turf and trees will ultimately cut in-put water use by a meaningful amount. Capital and technology applications to grow turf and trees can achieve more “new” water than the turf removal or excess use charge.”
(Contributor’s profession is in the area of water management for developers and conservationists)
I cut my water use significantly. My 40 mature trees are suffering and dying. My large shrubs are dying. I have a SMALL amount of grass in the front which faces south next to a LARGE cul-de-sac which has an above average heat island effect. I will NOT remove the rest of the grass in the front but I removed my pool USED to have a vegetable garden no longer do. Beds are empty. The water district is CORRUPT! I have lived in my home PAYING TAXES since 1992 on a half-acre. No wonder Vegas has the WORST mental health among large cities. NO GREEN MEANS MORE MENTAL ILLNESS!
Excited to hear about this organization. I grew up here and enjoyed frolicking in the grass! Haha!
This excessive use charge is ridiculous, and also bordering on illegal! They have no idea of how much water I need to use, let alone charge me ridiculous extra charges for this shadow usage! I am tired of our council and utilities overcharging and over regulating the taxpayer of Las Vegas, to placate the builders in their greed to build and overbuild this Valley! What are they thinking? Well, if I had to guess, I'd say they aren't! We are here now...quit burdening us with your glorified dreams of the future! You are making a wasteland of the future with this over development and studid attitude of" if we build it, they will come"!! Don't put you immaginative grandious dreams on our back! We pay your bloated salaries!
My excess use charges have been over $700 in the summer. We are on 1/2 acre and have been using considerably less water than in years past before the excess use charges. This is crazy big is doubling our water bill. We are actually moving out of state because of this charge.
BADLANDS SHOULD HAVE TAUGHT THESE PEOPLE A LESSON, we should not be encouraging low cost growth, we need more Summit and Ridges Communities. Las Vegas should be the New Beverly Hills, not San Fernando Valley...that population growth number of 2.3MM to 3.3MM other than mass California exodus cold climate relocations and Foreign/gaming money who are those 1MM folk and what is the industry to support them, AMAZON?
I just moved to a new house and it appears it is one of the ones affected by this excessive use fee. I have lived in Las Vegas for 43 years and am appalled at the fees they applied to my bill. We moved in 2 weeks ago and the previous owner had everything set up on the landscaping. Nothing from the water district just an outrageous water bill. I called and they refused to help me.
More water to be saved: During summer watering, five days instead of six: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday. The topsoil won't notice it and the roots down under will still have their moisture. Let's drink a water toast to that!
My most ręcent bill was over $3700😳. This is insane, more than a mortgage and forcing us to sell our home at 87 & 75!
I am also interested in preserving grass and trees to improve overall climate in this valley.
I live on 1/2 an acre. Last year I lost three trees because of the water district rules. And this year it is already HOT and we will be going over for sure.
I’m also a senior citizen on a fixed income.
I am the owner of a reputable landscape company (AND Certified Arborist) and I deal with this issue routinely. Particularly with folks new to the valley. There is an inequality that a property of .10 acre is allotted the same amount of water that a property (like my own) of .55 acre (or larger properties which we care for).
Thank you! We are also extremely frustrated by the actions of the water company. We purchased our home in 2010. As per instructions from SNWA, we removed 10,000 sq ft of grass in our front yard, but we’re told we MUST keep our 40 year old trees alive. So for 10 years we’ve done just that. Now, with water restrictions and fines, these magnificent trees barely get enough water to survive!
I bought this land 8 years ago and have put my life savings into saving to build. Now that I can, the government will not let me put in a septic tank like all of my neighbors and building to connect to the city main is prohibitive.
“I have 2 acres so I can have my horses. Bill last month was $3,600! $1,600 is Excessive Water Fee. It's cost prohibitive to have animals and a larger property with this penalty.”
“…..Although I've long been a supporter of the SNWA's water conservation programs and am proud of the change undertaken in this valley in the last quarter century to make us a true leader in water conservation, I feel the SNWA has way over-stepped its mandate and is now risking doing severe and highly consequential damage to Southern Nevada, economically, environmentally and in quality of life. They are now severely threatening our urban forest just as we need it most to help mitigate the effects of regional warming and the heat island effect of our urban community! “
"I admit, our yard is large, but we have owned this home for 38 years and lots were much larger then. We want our grandkids to be able to play on Grass, Not Rocks! We are willing to change our front yard to low water or desert landscaping, although it will be a huge expense!! But we want grass in our backyard! 1/2 of it is already pavers and a cement pickle ball court. It is so frustrating that the new water limits do not take into account the size of a homeowner’s lot, or the number of people who live there! Our Daughter & her husband have 9 people in their family. That means 9 people who shower, do laundry & wash dishes! They should be allowed more water! And why are these limits & fines only placed on people who live in Las Vegas, not Henderson or North Las Vegas! Why are they making so much money from ridiculous fines off only Las Vegas residents? Plus, it's just not healthy to live in a world with only rocks and cement! People need plants, trees and grass! The new 220 Assembly Bill states no grass in new developments! I realize some people don't want to maintain lawns, pay for watering grass, etc, but many do want grass for their kids & animals to play on. Artificial turf is very expensive and HOT!! Kids & Animals don't want to play on turf, especially during the hot months! These restrictions and water limits are terrible, and the fines for overuse are EXTREME!! My grass, plants and trees will not stay alive with the watering limits that currently exist! It's just not possible! If we want our kids to grow up in a healthy environment where oxygen is produced through trees, plants, and grass - something has to change, or we become an unhealthy, unhappy community. Unlike hard surfaces such as concrete, asphalt, rocks and wood, grass helps clean the air, trap carbon dioxide, reduce erosion from stormwater runoff, improve soil, decrease noise pollution, and reduce temperatures - we all need this!!"
While we understand the need to charge for excessive use, the LVVWD needs to have a sliding scale of use acceptability based upon lot size and home size. To have a small condo have the same threshold as a larger home on a .5 acre lot is not reasonable. We have a family that uses the lawn and pool, and we have desert landscaping all other areas. We make sure that there are no leaks or unnecessary usage, and our bill is 50% excessive use fees.”
“We live on a .36 acre lot and already converted 2000 sq ft of grass (opted not to apply for the refund) in our backyard. We have seven 30 year plus pine trees, a 30 plus year plus eucalyptus tree, a 20 plus year African sumac, a 20 plus year Carolina cherry tree, a 20 plus year olive tree, pam trees, yucca plants, over 1 dozen mature oleander, and lots of shrubs. I don't think it's fair that Vegas Valley Water District raised our rates while Henderson, North Las Vegas, and Boulder City opted out of raising their rates. Vegas Valley Water District is owned by SNWA hence the rate increase. Still not fair, but I guess all these excessive use fees help SNWA hide the fact that they bought alfalfa ranches in Northern Nevada and exporting the crop to China and Venezuela.”
“This is insane. And it's nothing more than yet another redistribution of wealth. If you own more land you must be rich so let’s make you pay for the water other people use. People who own larger lots also pay more property tax. I am 74 years old. I have worked all my life to have a paid off home. But even now that it is paid off I pay over $400 a month in property tax for the privilege of being a tax paying working member of society.”
“Organize to vote against Ross Miller and other Clark County Commissioners who voted for the new rates in the next election.”
“I am very concerned about the water restriction of 163,000 gallons of water (AB220) if a drought is declared. I would lose dozens of trees. New trees cost $ 500 plus the cost to remove the dead trees and plant a new one could easily total $ 1,000. I built my home in 1994 on 3 acres. What the powers that be--they avoid the unlimited growth in the valley at the expense of existing homeowners. The RJ reported that the LAs Vegas Water Authority has already granted water to 80,000 new living units”
“I have replaced grass with artificial. I have almost a half acre with a pool. I have a garden (4 raised beds) where I grow fruits and vegetables that I share with neighbors. It is a downright shame that my garden can no longer be maintained and that your water restrictions will ruin my property value. Yet I see thousands of new properties being built. Your profits are affecting my life and enjoyment of living in LV. Eventually, all the new people will realize LV is not a good place to live after they spend a year in the heat and they experience the extremely high utility bills. It is a downright shame.”
“Read the RJ article. You guys aren't immune or special. Conserve like the rest of us. I've reached out to the commissioners below to tell them they made the right call.”
Special note from the administrator: This is the only comment of this nature received thus far. We respect the fact that some people are comfortable with limited opportunities for quality of life. It is our hope that through education, the realization that Southern Nevada, as it is today, is threatened and that the urban tree canopy, largely cared for at the expense of private home ownership, must be protected. Should it come down to everyone living within the confines of limited water use, as currently prescribed, the canopy will die, temperatures will continue to increase at an accelerated rate and Southern Nevada could become uninhabitable. On this path, we WILL run out of the last drop of water…..Sometimes it is incumbent on a few to fight for the needs of many.