Southern Nevada Water Briefing. John J. Entsminger, General Manager

Transcription

1 Southern Nevada Water Briefing John J. Entsminger, General Manager

2 MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES Regional water supply planning Conservation programming Water quality Managing and protecting environmental resources Regional facility construction and operations

3 MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES Seven of every 10 Nevadans rely on the SNWA to supply water to homes and businesses.

4 FUNDING SOURCES - Wholesale Delivery Charge - Water Bill Charges - Sales Tax - Connection Charges - Grant Proceeds - SNPLMA Land Sale Proceeds

5 WATER USE 5% of water available for use

6 WATER USE 6

7 WATER RESOURCES 10% Southern Nevada is nearly fully reliant on the Colorado River to meet the community s water demands. 90% Colorado River Other

8 COLORADO RIVER DROUGHT For the past 16 years, the Colorado River has been experiencing severe drought conditions, affecting Lake Mead s water levels. NASA Earth Observatory images by Joshua Stevens 2000 vs levels

9 COLORADO RIVER DROUGHT Lake Mead s water levels have fallen nearly 140 feet. Ongoing drought and declining lake levels impact: - Availability of supplies - Resource allocations - Water quality in the lake - Infrastructure operations

10 Lake Mead Elevation COLORADO RIVER DROUGHT Lake levels are projected to continue to decline. 1,225 1,200 1,175 Major Droughts Repeated ,150 1,125 1,100 1,075 1,050 1,025 1,

11 COLORADO RIVER DROUGHT Southern Nevada has spent decades preparing for drought to ensure the reliability of water supplies for Southern Nevada. Banked water resources Flexible river operations and agreements with Colorado River Basin users Aggressive conservation program New infrastructure Resource diversification

12 COLORADO RIVER DROUGHT In 2008, construction began on Lake Mead Intake No. 3, which accesses water at the deepest part of Lake Mead. Saddle Island Intake 1 Intake 2 Thermocline Thermocline Intake 3 Lake Mead Intake Profile

13 LAKE MEAD INTAKE NO. 3 Intake No. 3 ensures system capacity and protects customers from water quality issues. Operations began September Project details: 2.5 mile tunnel underneath Lake Mead Approximately 2,400 concrete rings each weighing more than 32 tons used to line tunnel Elevation 860 feet Cost: $817 million Before Intake No. 3 was put into service

14 LAKE MEAD INTAKE NO. 3 Intake Structure before being lowered to the bottom of the lake Cement trucks being tugged to intake site for concrete pour Cutter Head at its destination

15 Spillway Gate - Elevation 1,221 ft ft ft. Intake No ft. Intake No. 2 Dead Pool - Elevation 895 feet 860 ft. Intake No. 3

16 LOW LAKE LEVEL PUMPING STATION Construction has begun on a new Low Lake Level Pumping Station near Lake Mead. When completed, the pump station will ensure water deliveries down to 875 feet. Estimated cost: $650 million 16

17 LOW LAKE LEVEL PUMPING STATION Existing Access Shaft Pump Well Shafts Connects to Intake No. 3 Substitutes for Intake Pumping Stations 1 and 2 at very low lake levels. Construction Access Shaft Will operate between lake elevations 875 and 1,060 feet Forebay 17

18 WATER RESOURCES The SNWA relies upon a mix of permanent, temporary and future water resources to meet Southern Nevada s water demands.

19 WATER RESOURCES The SNWA maintains nearly 400,000 acre-feet in permanent water resources. More than 1.8 million acre-feet is banked for future use. Local groundwater bank Water banking arrangements in Arizona and California Brock Reservoir ICS credits Yuma Desalting Plant ICS credits Bi-national ICS credits Virgin River and Muddy River ICS credits Coyote Springs ICS credits

20 Acre-Feet/Year (Diversion Volume) SNWA WATER RESOURCE PLAN 1,200,000 Lower Demands, Normal Colorado River Conditions 1,000, , ,000 Temporary Resources 400,000 Permanent Resources 200,

21 Acre-Feet/Year (Diversion Volume) SNWA WATER RESOURCE PLAN Upper Demands, Colorado River Shortage Conditions (40,000 AF) 1,200,000 1,000, , ,000 Temporary Resources Future Resources 400,000 Permanent Resources 200,

22 Acre-Feet/Year (Diversion Volume) SNWA WATER RESOURCE PLAN Upper Demands, 40,000 AF Shortage with Additional Conservation 1,200,000 1,000, , GPCD by GPCD by GPCD by GPCD by ,000 Temporary Resources Future Resources 400, ,000 Permanent Resources

23 CONSERVATION Southern Nevada s conservation program promotes the efficient use of water resources and relies on four key tenets: REGULATIONS PROGRAMS PRICING EDUCATION Development codes, watering restrictions and other local ordinances help keep the use of water efficient. Incentive programs offer rebates for water-saving technologies and practices, such as car washes, landscape removal and pool covers. Local purveyors establish water rates that send conservation signals, but remain competitive among similarly-sized western cities. Tools such as the Speakers Bureau program, Youth Advisory Council, websites, publications, social media and public access TV show help reinforce messaging

24 CONSERVATION Since more than 99 percent of water used indoors is recycled, conservation programs focus on reducing outdoor water use. Return-Flow Credits help extend Colorado River resources beyond Nevada s allocation.

25 CONSERVATION

26 CONSERVATION Despite population gains, water use has declined since 2002.

27 WATER RESOURCES In the face of continued drought, Colorado River Basin States are negotiating changes to existing operating agreements. Once finalized, the Drought Contingency Plan aims to: Protect Lake Mead s elevations from falling below 1,020 feet Implement voluntary reductions in water use beyond those required by the 2007 Interim Guidelines o Includes a commitment by the U.S. to work to create or conserve Colorado River system water Permit recovery of additional reduction volumes under certain conditions Incentivize ICS creation/storage

28 WATER RESOURCES Proposed voluntary reductions would be tied to Lake Mead s elevations 2007 Interim Guidelines Shortages (kaf) Voluntary Reductions (kaf) Combined Reductions (kaf) (2007 Interim Guidelines Shortages + Voluntary Reductions) Lake Mead Elevation (ft) AZ NV AZ NV CA AZ NV CA TOTAL 1, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,017 < 1, ,100

29 Percent Occurrence WATER RESOURCES Proposed voluntary reductions would help reduce risk to Lake Mead s elevations. 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% Current Risk Current Risk with Climate Change Lake Mead Elevations (Probability of <1,020 ft. in any month) Adjusted Current Risk with Lower Basin States Voluntary Water Reductions 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%

30 Lake Mead Elevation WATER RESOURCES Investments in conservation have slowed Lake Mead s declines. 1,140 1,130 1,120 1,110 1,100 1,090 1,080 1,070 1, Current Lake Mead Elevation Brock ICS MOU System Conservation Mexico Deferred Delivery 1,081 ft: Jan. 17 Elevation 1,061 ft. Lake elevation without conservation activities 30

31 2017 INITIATIVES Finalize major agreements for Colorado River sharing and management Continue construction on the Low Lake Level Pumping Station Support projects that maintain or increase Lake Mead s water levels Support hearings for eastern Nevada groundwater applications Keep conserving

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