If you change the brake pads or tires on your vehicle before they fail, you’re practicing good “asset management.” The Southern Nevada Water Authority asset management program helps keep the Las Vegas Valley water system in top condition and operating smoothly. Doa Ross , Deputy General Manager Engineering, and Ryan Benner , Engineering Asset Manager, talk about how they work to avoid major main breaks on the Las Vegas Strip and throughout the valley, and how innovative technologies like remotel...
Nov 28, 2022•38 min•Season 2Ep. 33
Water Smarts Podcast host Bronson Mack recently took City Cast Las Vegas host Dayvid Figler on a water waste ride along. The two talked turkey about how to spot and stop water waste with the help of LVVWD water waste investigator Cameron Donnarumma . In this special edition, we’re featuring the podcast produced and originally published by City Cast Las Vegas, titled “A Water Cop Ride Along.” You can find the City Cast Las Vegas podcasts at https://pod.link/citycastlasvegas or on your favorite po...
Nov 07, 2022•24 min•Season 2Ep. 32
The Clark County School District (CCSD) is leading the way with its water-smart projects, including converting 24 athletic fields to synthetic turf and replacing grass with water-smart landscaping at 195 schools. Combined, these projects save nearly 400 million gallons of water each year. Hear how these projects will impact valley schools and how CCSD is leaning in strong on water conservation. Mark Campbell , CCSD Director of Sustainability, Energy & Environmental Services, and JC Davis , S...
Oct 17, 2022•29 min•Season 2Ep. 31
How will additional water cuts under tier 2 shortage conditions impact Southern Nevada’s water supply next year? Why can’t we just cut off the water to other Colorado River users? How can our community continue to grow and thrive with its limited water supply? And, just who does use the most water in Southern Nevada? Colby Pellegrino , the SNWA Deputy General Manager of Water Resources, taps the truth on shortage, new development, and other Colorado River water users on episode 30 of the Water S...
Sep 19, 2022•39 min•Season 2Ep. 30
From a well-placed kick by “Mrs. Nuttington” to the body-checks by former Vegas Golden Knights hockey player Ryan Reaves, the public outreach campaigns by the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) and its ad agency have made people laugh, gasp and save water. SNWA’s Beth Moore gives the scoop on how these successful campaigns are created and the challenge of reaching the entire Las Vegas Valley on a limited budget. She also dishes fun, behind-the-scenes details about some of the more popular ad...
Sep 08, 2022•33 min•Season 2Ep. 29
In this special Water Smarts Podcast, we feature an interview by Dayvid Figler of the City Cast Las Vegas Podcast with JC Davis, Enterprise Conservation Manager at the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA). Dayvid and JC talk about a new law, AB356 , that was passed last year in response to our ever-worsening drought. The law will prohibit use of Colorado River water to irrigate decorative grass at businesses by the end of 2026. JC breaks down what the new law mandates, the difference between “...
Aug 23, 2022•22 min•Season 2Ep. 28
A permanent aridification of the Colorado River due to climate change means those sharing the river also will have to share the pain of shortage reductions as less water flows from the Colorado River into lakes Powell and Mead. Southern Nevada relies on the river for 90 percent of its water supply yet is uniquely positioned to weather the reductions due to investments in infrastructure and the success of its conservation efforts. The Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) Executive Team discusse...
Jul 26, 2022•35 min•Season 2Ep. 27
Lake Mead’s water levels are at historic lows and the Colorado River is suffering from a decades-long megadrought, resulting in federal shortage declarations that have reduced Southern Nevada’s water supply. Since residential landscape irrigation consumes much of the Las Vegas Valley’s water, watering smart has never been more important. Doug Bennett, the Conservation Manager of the Southern Nevada Water Authority, shares tips to help residents set their irrigation systems so that their landscap...
Jul 11, 2022•24 min•Season 2Ep. 26
How do you know your tap water is safe to drink? Carolyn Faircloth , the Water Quality Laboratory Manager for the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA), shares how she and her team test and monitor our drinking water to ensure high-quality water is delivered to your home or business every day. Hosts Crystal Zuelke and Bronson Mack talk water quality and how you can find out what’s in our water on episode 25 of Water Smarts Podcast , “Yes, you can drink the tap water.” https://www.snwa.com/ http...
May 17, 2022•29 min•Season 2Ep. 25
Scientists have been using sewage to track COVID-19 in the community throughout the pandemic and even now as the virus enters the endemic stage. Using wastewater surveillance helps scientists determine the prevalence of the virus and what variants are present in the Las Vegas Valley. We talk with Dr. Dan Gerrity, Principal Research Laboratory Scientist for the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA), and Dr. Edwin Oh, UNLV Associate Professor of Neurogenetics and Precision Medicine Lab, about how...
Apr 26, 2022•35 min•Season 2Ep. 24
Spring is the season for renewal the time when many of us get our hands dirty and spruce up our yards. We talk with Star Nursery experts Dr. Q and Joey Lynn Watt about how to irrigate, prune, fertilize and get rid of garden pests on episode 23 of the Water Smarts Podcast , “SPRING ALIVE! Garden and landscape tips from Star Nursery’s Dr. Q and Joey Lynn Watt.” Hosts: Bronson Mack and Crystal Zuelke https://www.snwa.com/ https://www.snwa.com/...
Mar 31, 2022•36 min•Season 2Ep. 23
The permanent aridification of the Colorado River—the source of 90 percent of Southern Nevada’s water supply—means much less water will flow into Lake Mead in the future. The Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) recently updated its Water Resource Plan to address aridification and other major impacts to the Las Vegas Valley water supply. We talk with Zane Marshall , SNWA Director of Water Resources, about what this means for Southern Nevada and how everyone in the community can help protect ou...
Mar 10, 2022•36 min•Season 2Ep. 22
Shortage conditions on the Colorado River have reduced Southern Nevada’s water supply by about 7 billion gallons. While homeowners have worked hard to conserve water and remove water-thirsty grass, the business community is lagging behind in this effort. We talk with JC Davis , Enterprise Conservation Manager for the Southern Nevada Water Authority , about a new law requiring businesses, HOAs and multifamily properties to stop irrigating nonfunctional turf with Colorado River water by the end of...
Feb 10, 2022•28 min•Season 2Ep. 21
Southern Nevada’s water system operates 24 hours a day, every day treating and delivering water that is pumped through nearly 4,000 feet of elevation changes in order to serve more than 2 million people in the Las Vegas Valley. The Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) pulls water from deep below Lake Mead, treats it, and pumps it to the member agencies, which then deliver it to homes and businesses. Join our hosts Bronson Mack and Crystal Zuelke as they talk with Ken Albright , Director of Ope...
Jan 27, 2022•26 min•Season 2Ep. 20
Southern Nevada recycles 100% of the water it uses indoors—extending our limited water supply. For every gallon treated and returned to Lake Mead, we can pull another gallon out of the lake. Kim Adler , Assistant Manager at the Clark County Water Reclamation District, talks about how the “unseen utility” plays a high-profile role in treating and reusing Colorado River water in the valley and provides tips for holiday cooking cleanup on episode 19 of the Water Smarts Podcast , “Down the drain and...
Nov 17, 2021•26 min•Season 1Ep. 19
Las Vegas is the fastest warming city in the United States and as temperatures rise, the city’s urban forest of plants and trees will need to weather hotter, drier conditions. Doug Bennett , Conservation Manager for the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA), discusses how we can protect our tree canopy and plan for tree succession to help protect the valley’s urban forest, which is essential to helping reduce urban heat island impacts. Hear more on the Water Smarts Podcast , “Trees for Tomorrow...
Nov 03, 2021•34 min•Season 1Ep. 18
Clark County is developing its first sustainability and climate action plan. The All-In Clark County plan focuses on enhancing quality of life, protecting our natural resources and diversifying our economy. Las Vegas is the fastest warming city in the nation, and the impacts of climate change are threatening our water and energy resources and creating other challenges for Southern Nevada. Marci Henson , Clark County’s Director of Environment and Sustainability, discusses the challenges posed by ...
Oct 07, 2021•35 min•Season 1Ep. 17
Located an hour north of Las Vegas, the Warm Springs Natural Area (WSNA) is an oasis in the Mojave Desert that has provided shelter to people and wildlife for centuries. The site has more than two dozen springs that feed into the Muddy River, which flows into Lake Mead. The WSNA is home to 28 endangered, threatened and sensitive species, including the Moapa dace which are found nowhere else in the world but in the WSNA’s warm, spring-fed waters. Zane Marshall , the director of Water Resources fo...
Sep 21, 2021•32 min•Season 1Ep. 16
Replacing old, splotchy grass at mature properties can provide a facelift and improve customers’ first impression of a business, according to Katherine Harper , a property manager for Gatski Commercial Real Estate. Harper talks about how grass wastes water and money in addition to making a property look old and tired. She has helped several of her clients refresh their properties by upgrading their landscapes to an attractive water-smart alternative. Not only have her clients improved the aesthe...
Sep 07, 2021•31 min•Season 1Ep. 15
Climate change-fueled drought conditions have led the federal government to issue a water shortage declaration on the Colorado River, a move that will reduce the amount of water Southern Nevada will be allowed to withdraw from Lake Mead beginning in January 2022. Combined with existing water reductions outlined in the Drought Contingency Plan, the declared shortage will cut Southern Nevada’s annual water allocation by nearly 7 billion gallons of water next year – enough to serve more than 40,000...
Aug 16, 2021•39 min•Season 1Ep. 14
The City of Las Vegas is world renowned as the Entertainment Capital of the World, but did you know it also is leading the way in creating a sustainable future through its Master Plan 2050? Las Vegas planning expert Marco Velotta joins hosts Bronson Mack and Crystal Zuelke to talk about how Las Vegas is addressing water, energy and climate change issues and ensuring that the city continues to thrive well into the future on episode 13 of the Water Smarts Podcast , “From trees to housing – City of...
Aug 09, 2021•32 min•Season 1Ep. 13
The Nevada Governor recently signed into law Assembly Bill 356 (AB356), which prohibits the use of Colorado River water to irrigate decorative, useless grass in streetscapes, medians, parking lots and other areas where it is used for nonrecreational purposes by the end of 2026. The law helps the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) advance its conservation goals by essentially requiring this grass to be replaced with water-smart landscapes. SNWA Deputy General Manager of Resources Colby Pelleg...
Jul 22, 2021•43 min•Season 1Ep. 12
WaterStart serves as an innovation hub that brings water utilities and innovators together to test new technologies. From measuring arsenic in groundwater in real-time to finding leaks in the Las Vegas Valley Water District’s 6,500 miles of buried pipes, WaterStart innovators are helping the water industry use technology to solve the nagging challenges that keep utility staff up at night. SNWA Deputy General Manager of Operations Dave Johnson and WaterStart Executive Director Nate Allen share su...
Jun 08, 2021•39 min•Season 1Ep. 11
Currently, 40 percent of the Las Vegas Valley gets its water through the South Valley Lateral (SVL) transmission system. While the rest of Southern Nevada’s water transmission laterals have redundant facilities to ensure water delivery in the event of an emergency, the SVL is a single-feed system. In 2017, a leak in the pipeline required the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) to coordinate major repairs with the City of Henderson and Las Vegas Valley Water District to keep water flowing to c...
May 19, 2021•33 min•Season 1Ep. 10
Show Summary: There are more than 5,000 acres of useless grass in Southern Nevada that only gets used when someone runs a lawn mower over it. And while residential property owners have stepped up and removed grass from their yards through the Water Smarts Landscapes rebate, the majority of remaining non-functional turf is on commercial and HOA properties, medians, and streetscapes. Patrick Watson , Conservation Programs Administrator with the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA), discusses why...
Apr 19, 2021•38 min•Season 1Ep. 9
Conservation is one of the most important actions Southern Nevadans can take to protect our limited water supply – particularly as we continue to weather a severe drought in the Colorado River basin. Toby Bickmore , Conservation Programs Administrator with the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA), shares watering tips and how to get cash incentives for saving water in the Las Vegas Valley. Recommended resources: Earn $3 a square foot for grass replaced with a Water Smart Landscape . Find tips ...
Mar 31, 2021•37 min•Season 1Ep. 8
Every time Southern Nevadans flush the toilet, they’re helping scientists at the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWSA) and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas study the prevalence of COVID-19 in the community. SNWA researchers Dan Gerrity and Katerina Papp talk about how they ensure the coronavirus is not in our drinking water supply, and how they can track a pandemic using raw sewage samples and wastewater surveillance on episode 7 of the Water Smarts podcast : “Poops don’t lie – Tracking a p...
Mar 15, 2021•31 min•Season 1Ep. 7
Protecting Southern Nevada’s water resources by preventing and stopping water waste is all in a day’s work for Summer Ortiz and Perry Kaye from the Las Vegas Valley Water District’s water waste team. Summer and Perry share tips on how to prevent water waste, and how to help stop it around your neighborhood on this episode of the Water Smarts podcast . You can help protect our limited water supply by keeping water on your property, letting your neighbors know if they have an irrigation problem, a...
Mar 01, 2021•27 min•Season 1Ep. 6
Show Summary: Where do Las Vegas casinos go after they’re imploded? Several of them have found a second life as material for erosion-control structures that help shore up the banks of the Las Vegas Wash, a 12-mile natural channel that plays an important role in Southern Nevada’s watershed. The Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) and the Las Vegas Wash Coordination Committee have worked for two decades to protect the Wash, which carries treated wastewater, storm water and urban runoff to Lake ...
Feb 08, 2021•36 min•Season 1Ep. 5
As Lake Mead water levels dropped due to drought, the two major water intakes pulling water from the lake for Southern Nevada were getting perilously close to the surface. Doa Ross , the deputy general manager of engineering for the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA), joins the Water Smarts podcast to talk about how SNWA engineered a solution and constructed a new intake deep below the lake’s surface and a pumping station to push water from the intake to the water treatment facilities locate...
Jan 20, 2021•21 min•Season 1Ep. 4
