Last year, as climate change-fueled drought continued to grip the Colorado River, including Lake Mead-the source of 90 percent of Southern Nevada’s supply—local residents and businesses stepped up their commitment to conserve water, and they did it in a big way.
In 2022, the community used approximately 5.5 billion fewer gallons of water than in 2021. Much of these savings can be attributed to property owners following seasonal watering restrictions, which limit landscape irrigation to three assigned days a week in spring and fall and one day in winter; in summer, the restrictions prohibit watering between 11 and 7 p.m. (Sunday watering is prohibited all year.)
Almost 70 percent of property owners in Southern Nevada followed the seasonal restrictions in 2022, a big improvement from 57 percent in 2021.
Because about 60 percent of all water consumed in Southern Nevada is used for residential landscape irrigation, reducing outdoor water use by following seasonal restrictions is the easiest way to conserve water. It can save the average homeowner more than $300 per year by simply changing your watering clock only four times a year. Preventing water waste contributes to reduced water consumption by inspecting your irrigation system monthly, repairing any leaks, fixing misaligned or damaged sprinkler heads, and not allowing water to flow off your property.
Another method to save water is by converting your thirsty grass to water-efficient landscaping through the Southern Nevada Water Authority’s (SNWA) Water Smart Landscapes Rebate Program (WSL).
Southern Nevada’s overwhelmingly positive response to local conservation measures takes on added significance as a federal water shortage on the Colorado River has reduced water supply by about 8 billion gallons. More cuts are anticipated in the coming years.
So keep up the great work and stay water smart! For more information on how you can help save water, visit snwa.com.
