If you live in Las Vegas, there are numerous water offices and branches that deal with water, but where do problems with water management and waste go?
The main water offices in Southern Nevada are the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA), Las Vegas Valley Water District (LVVWD), the North Las Vegas Utilities Department, and the Water Resources Division. However, most Las Vegas residents only need to be concerned with the LVVWD. They manage water distribution, watering schedules, leakages, and water quality surveying. The SNWA manages water on a regional basis in Nevada and ensures that around 99% of indoor water is recycled.
How You Can Help
As a resident, you can talk to neighbors and tell them if their sprinklers are watering at the wrong times or if there are leakages on their property, but if they choose not to take action or can be seen stealing water from main pipelines or fire hydrants, you can report them to LVVWD on their website. After submitting a report, water officers will execute the following steps:
- Step 1: Surveying the property and the reported problem, talking to the resident or landowner, and/or fixing any leak present.
- Step 2: If the landowner does not want to cooperate, water officers take video documentation and issue a warning.
- Step 3: A follow up investigation is carried out to see if the problem is still unresolved
- Step 4: Fees and fines are given out to the landowner until the problem is fixed.
Water Theft is a much more prevalent problem than most residents may think and is a pressing issue for the water district. It can cause serious problems for customers and water utilities and can sometimes be stealing water from their neighbors, raising their water bill. Here are some signs of water theft:
- a water truck hooked to an unmetered fire hydrant
- water meters being taken out of the ground
- hoses and pipes going through fences/across property lines
- stucco and landscape crews connecting to anything other than a water truck
Taking a deeper look: