Las Vegas Casinos Conserve Water Amid Drought

The drought that has plagued California and other areas of the western U.S. has not left Las Vegas unscathed, and now the city's primary water resource is in jeopardy.

The water levels in Lake Mead, which supplies 90 percent of the city's water, have been steadily decreasing over the past 14 years primarily due to the ongoing drought conditions on the Colorado River.

Currently, the lake's water levels are just below 1,100 feet above sea level and approaching the elevation mark for the first water intake straw, which is one of two that supplies water to the city. The intake sits at an elevation mark of 1,050 feet.

Drought conditions are nothing new for the city, which due to its arid climate averages only about 4 inches of rain per year. Through the first four months of 2014, roughly 0.31 of an inch of rain has fallen in the city and nearly two months have passed without measurable rainfall.

For casino resorts in town, described as the economic engine of the city, water conservation isn't just an option, it's a necessity.

During the early 1990s, resorts were one of the first sectors in the community targeted for conservation.

Any new resort that has been built since then is required to submit a water conservation plan as part of the approval process for construction.

Conservation techniques such as using water efficient technologies, minimizing landscaping, moving water features from outdoors to indoors among other measures are utilized.

"They need to be able to show us how and where they are working to save water," said Bronson Mack, a spokesperson for the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA).

All casino resorts in Las Vegas use roughly 7 percent of the local water resources. However, their actual water consumption is around 3 percent, according to Mack.

"Here in Las Vegas, we have a distinction between what we use, as far as water resources go, and what we consume," Mack said. "Because we recycle nearly 100 percent of our indoor water use."

At the 10 MGM Resorts properties in Las Vegas, they take many steps to be efficient with their water usage, including building and retrofitting many of their operations to be water conservative.

Low-flow shower heads and toilets are installed in their hotel rooms and guests are offered the option to reuse towels, linens and bed sheets each day, according to MGM Resorts Spokesperson Yvette Monet.

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Media

Taxonomy

• Drought
• Conservation
• Water Supply