MAINTAINING SUSTAINABLE WATER SUPPLIES

Dave Johnson | Deputy General Manager

Regional water supply planning

Conservationprogramming

Operate Major Regional Facilities

Water Quality

Facility construction

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The Southern Nevada Water Authority is a not-for-profit agency created in 1991 to provide a safe,

reliable water supply for Southern Nevada.

• Youngest city of more than 2 million people in the U.S.

• Founded in 1905

• 40 million visitors annually

• 330 days of sunshine a year and a low cost of living.

The SNWA meets the water demands of Southern Nevada’s 2 million residents and

40 million annual visitors.

The Colorado River meets 90 percent of Southern Nevada’s water demands.

90%

Colorado River Resources

10%

OtherResources

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The Colorado River is shared among seven Basin States and the country of Mexico.

Nevada receives 300,000 acre-feet of Colorado River water annually.

3.9

1

0.85

1.7

4.44

2.85

0.3

ColoradoWyomingNew MexicoUtahCaliforniaArizonaNevada

River Allocations (in million acre-feet)

The Colorado River Basin is facing one of the worst droughts in recorded history.

950

975

1,000

1,025

1,050

1,075

1,100

1,125

1,150

1,175

1,200

1,225

2000 1953

2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 20302015 2016

Lake Mead Elevation

Major Droughts Repeated

8

LAKE MEAD PROJECTIONS

January 2000 Elevation: 1,214 ft.December 2014 Elevation: 1,083 ft.

As a result, Lake Mead water elevations have declined more than 130 feet during the past 15 years.

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The SNWA is taking a series of actions to address long-term drought and

provide a sustainable supply for Southern Nevada.

Conserving Resources

Working with Colorado River partners

Securing temporary and long-term supplies

Safeguarding our access

PRICING

EDUCATION

REGULATION

DEMAND MANAGEMENTINCENTIVES

The SNWA and its member agencies utilize a variety of

tools to promote conservation and reduce overall water use.

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Direct reuse and return-flow credits allow Southern Nevada to reuse 99 percent of the treated wastewater flows.

EDUCATION AND OUTREACH• Community outreach• How-to collateral (finding leaks, landscaping

planning, pool and spa maintenance)• H2O University teacher training• Youth Advisory Council• Desert demonstration gardens and plant sales• Water Smart Innovations Conference• Springs Preserve • Mass media and marketing

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CONSERVATION INTIATIVES

REGULATION• Landscape development codes• Golf course water budgets• Mandatory watering restrictions• Water-waste prohibition

INCENTIVES• Smart Irrigation equipment rebates • Pool cover rebates• Water Efficient Technologies (W.E.T.) for

industrial/institutional clients• Indoor Retrofit program for older homes

and apartments• Water Smart Landscape (WSL) program

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CONSERVATION INTIATIVES

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The SNWA’s Water Smart Landscapes Program has yielded remarkable water savings for Southern Nevada.

WATER SMART LANDSCAPES

SNWA partners with key industries to leverage water savings.

- Water Smart Homes (development)- Water Smart Contractors (landscapers)- Water Upon Request (restaurants)- Linen Exchange program (hospitality)- Water Conservation Coalition (general business)

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INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIPS

BRADY LINEN:200+ million gallons saved annually from tunnel pulse washer improvements

ELDORADO ENERGY:30 million gallons annually from cooling tower improvements

OCEAN SPRAY:12 million gallons saved annually from cooling tower improvements and converting to air rinsers

GOLF COURSESConverted 42 million square feet of grass – the amount needed to build nine new 18-hole courses.

Evaporative Cooling

INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIPS

ARIA RESORTAria’s “water wall” was designed in a way to be

highly efficient , resulting in less water loss than a residential pool.

Efficient designs at Aria

Evaporation from cooling systems exceeds the combined use of landscape, water features and pools.

BOYD GAMING:50 million gallons annually from cooling tower improvements

BELLAGIO:20 million gallons saved annually from cooling tower improvements

INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIPS

1.0

1.2

1.4

1.6

1.8

2.0

2.2

0

100

200

300

400

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

Gal

lons

per

Cap

ita p

er D

ay

Southern Nevada customers used 32 billion gallons less Colorado River water in 2014 than in 2002, despite population increase of more than 520,000 people.

1.0 million

1.2 million

1.4 million

1.6 million

1.8 million

2.0 million

2.2 million

Population

GPCD versus Population

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CONSERVATION SUCCESS

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Conserving Resources

Working with Colorado River partners

Securing temporary and long-term supplies

Safeguarding our access

MAINTAINING SUSTAINABLE WATER SUPPLIES

• Coordinated operations of the system’s two major reservoirs

• Shortages (timing and quantity)

• River augmentation

• Environmental issues

Since the onset of the drought, the seven Colorado River Basin states have been cooperatively addressing river issues:

BASIN COOPERATION

The Basin States developed a framework to manage shortages, utilizing Lake Mead water elevations as triggers.

1,075 ft.

1,050 ft.

1,025 ft.

Nevada: 13,000 af / Arizona: 320,000 af

Nevada: 17,000 af / Arizona: 400,000 af

Nevada: 20,000 af / Arizona: 480,000 afInitiate reconsultation for shortage below 1,025 ft.

Nevada/Arizona’s share of Colorado River shortages

Lake Mead

SHORTAGE SHARING

WHAT IT IS: A “bank account” that funds projects throughout the Colorado River Basin that reduce Colorado River demands or create additional system water.

WHAT IT DOES: Benefits system as a whole: no funding partner receives additional water rights.

YIELD: Estimated 60,000 – 100,000 AF of conserved water

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COLORADO RIVER SYSTEM CONSERVATION

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Conserving Resources

Working with Colorado River partners

Securing temporary and long-term supplies

Safeguarding our access

MAINTAINING SUSTAINABLE WATER SUPPLIES

INTAKE 1

INTAKE 2

WATER TREATMENT

FACILITY

INTAKE STRUCTURE

INTAKE PUMPING STATIONS 1 AND 2

WATER DELIVERIES

The Lake Mead Model uses ELCOM/CAEDYM

ELCOM: 3-D hydrodynamic model, stratification, wind mixing, temperature, salinity, conservative tracers

CAEDYM: Water quality module, algae (chl-a), nutrients, TOC, DO, pH

ELCOM/CAEDYM developed by Centre for Water Research (UWA).

The Lake Mead Model was funded by Clean Water Coalition, SNWA and National Park Service.

LAKE MEAD MODEL

Lake Mead Intake No. 3

Intake TunnelTunnel Boring Machine AssemblyMuck Conveyor System

Intake Structure

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INTAKE NO. 3

Tunnel Boring Machine Breaching Intake

Intake 1

Intake 21,000 Feet

1,050 Feet

860 Feet

Intake 3

Elevation 1,050 feet

Elevation 1,000 feet

Elevation 860 feet

Current Lake Elevation: 1,081 feetSaddle Island

Intake Cross- Section LAKE MEAD CROSS SECTION

• Improve system reliability and operational flexibility

• Improve water quality

• Does not extend pumping capability below elevation 1,000 feet

INTAKE NO. 3 OBJECTIVES

Intake No. 1 Out of ServiceIntake No. 2 Out of Service

Saddle Island Elevation 860’

Spillway gates

Elevation 1,000 ft.Hoover

Dam

Dead Pool - Elevation 895’

Spillway Gate: Elevation 1,227 ft.

Elevation 1,050 ft.

INTAKE NO. 3

INTAKE NO. 2

INTAKE NO. 1

Given the risk of Lake Mead’s water elevation falling below 1,000 feet and the considerations of how it would impact Southern Nevada’s economy, a citizen’s advisory committee recommended the design and construction of a new low lake level pumping station.

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LOW LAKE LEVEL PUMPING STATION

600

800

700

900

1100

1000

1200

1300

Inta

ke 3

Inta

ke 1

Treatment

TreatmentIPS-1 IPS-2

IPS-2 Pump Operation Limit El. 1000

IPS-1 Pump Operation Limit El. 1050

Lake Mead Elevation

Inta

ke 2

Isol

atio

n Ga

te

New Pump Station

Estimated Cost: $650 million 32

LOW LAKE LEVEL PUMPING STATION

Tentative Details:

• Design for 900 million gallons per day capacity

• Pump from 875 feet

• Approximate cost: $650 million

The pumping station would be constructed to provide replacement capacity in the event Intake Pumping Station Nos. 1 and 2 are offline due to low lake levels –not to accommodate growth.

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LOW LAKE LEVEL PUMPING STATION

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Conserving Resources

Working with Colorado River partners

Securing temporary and long-term supplies

Safeguarding our access

MAINTAINING SUSTAINABLE WATER SUPPLIES

Temporary water supplies will meet demands during shortages and provide interim resources while long-term supplies are developed.

Arizona Water BankCalifornia Water BankSouthern Nevada Water BankVirgin and Muddy River Tributary Conservation and Imported ICSBrock Reservoir ICSYuma Desalting PlantExtraordinary Conservation ICSBinational ICS

Virgin River, Nevada35

Despite the challenges, the SNWA is committed to maintaining a safe, reliable water supply for Southern Nevada.

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MAINTAINING SUSTAINABLE WATER SUPPLIES

QUESTIONS?

David L. JohnsonDeputy General ManagerEngineering and OperationsSouthern Nevada Water Authoritydave.johnson@snwa.com(702) 567-2051