Okay, with a title like this I know what you're thinking. But no, I'm not talking about the drinks everyone's ordering up at Vegas bars on Friday night (or Wednesday morning for that matter). I'm talking about the amazing way in which we as humans have managed to bring water to the desert. And it's in no small quantity either.My recent trip to the strip for my sister's birthday had me in awe over the amount of life that has built up around such an unlikely environment. The temperature reached over 110° every day we were there, and I found myself drinking an excessive amount of water to avoid dehydration. Of course, with all of the casinos, trams and tunnels, many people get away with spending their trip primarily indoors. The hotels themselves are filled with thousands of people showering and flushing toilets. Staff are constantly washing dishes and doing laundry. And then you can't forget about the pools, fish tanks, fountains, and water shows.
I'll admit, a big part of the entertainment during my visit revolved around water. Strange for a trip to the desert, right? We spent three mornings at lavish pools. We saw a handful of shows at Bellagio's famous fountain. And then we sprung for tickets to Cirque du Soleil's "O," a water circus which also happens to be one of the most beautiful sets and performances I've ever seen in my life.I felt privileged to be surrounded by so much wonder (and water), but I couldn't help but think about the reality of what keeps Las Vegas going. So when I got home, I decided to dig a little bit deeper.
Here are the basics. Southern Nevada gets about 90% of its water from the Colorado River, and the other 10% from groundwater (wells). That's according to the Las Vegas Valley Water District. They seem to be in agreement over numbers with the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNVA), which explains that Lake Mead (a Colorado River reservoir), has dropped 130 feet since January 2000. Drought restrictions have been in place since 2003 to help with conservation efforts - and have proved somewhat successful. Las Vegas in particular has reduced Colorado River consumption by 30 billion gallons between 2002 and 2016, despite an increase in population. That equates to a 38% decline in per capita use (although they're still adding a lower pump to Lake Mead in expectations of the water levels dropping further).
So what do those numbers break down to? I found a really great article by the Las Vegas Review Journal that claims each person in Vegas uses about 125 gallons per day total. That includes tourists and residents. The average household flushes 33 gallons per day. And it takes one gallon of water to sustain every 5 square feet of grass. According to the Las Vegas Sun, the city has 2.8 million residents, and over 40 million visitors each year. Clearly, it adds up.
Water that's used outdoors is typically lost to the system, so people are encouraged to design desert friendly yards, or only water gardens at night. Indoor water use flows back into the sewers and is recycled. For every gallon of treated water that goes back into the Colorado River, SNWA is allowed to take an extra gallon back out of Lake Mead. I can't say that logic makes a ton of sense to me in an area where water levels are still decreasing... but apparently it's been working. Officials say they've stretched the cities supply to last "over the next several decades."As for the Bellagio fountain, I'm happy to report that their 8.5 acre lake uses private water from wells beneath the property - so it's not depleting the Colorado River or the city's drinking supply. The 22 million gallon tank loses about 12 million gallons per year to evaporation. That's over 30 thousand gallons per day - I guess that's what a dry heat can do! Another great article by the Sun says not much else escapes... the show is designed to account for wind and spray, and keep water within its boundaries.
Although it's still an unnatural choice of setting, I love the conservation efforts and awareness. Will they be enough to keep Las Vegas around for our grandkids? Time will tell.
