UNLV program monitors water usage

UNLV is adapting to the changing water needs of the Las Vegas valley.

Lake Mead is the main source of water for Las Vegas, but it has been deteriorating at a rapid rate since 1983 and even faster in the past 10 years.

“Sixty percent of all the water is used in the residential sector and 70 percent of that water is used outdoors, primarily for irrigation of urban landscapes,” said Dale Devitt, UNLV professor of life science.

There are four stages of drought that tell where the water supply stands, one being the lowest and four the highest level of water shortage. The current stage for Southern Nevada is “Drought Alert,” the third level.

In response, UNLV has created a Drought Response Plan that lays out ways of reducing water usage campus-wide by acknowledging where water run-off is occurring, changing turf to desert landscape, and installing drip irrigation systems where desert landscape has been created. 

“We follow the guidelines laid out by the university on water conservation.  Our toilets and sinks are automatic, reducing the amount of water needed, and our dishwasher is energy efficient,” Director of Student Union and Event Services Kelsey Harmon-Finn said.

UNLV as a whole has reduced turf by 200,584 sq. ft. since 1995, saving over $20,000 annually and has planned to reduce outdoor water usage by 25 percent by the year 2010, according to this plan.  This landscape will reduce the amount of run-off waste water and allow drip irrigation to feed roots directly. 

All new buildings will be designed in a way that will support these water conscience efforts as well.

“If outdoor water use were reduced by 50 percent, that would save the valley approximately 100,000 acre feet of water,” Devitt said.

Along with this plan, UNLV has created Urban 21.  UNLV Urban 21 is a group of UNLV faculty and staff who have developed different sustainability goals for the campus.  Energy resources, building heating and cooling, carpooling and water conservation are topics on the list of goals. 

“I want our students to be happy.  I’m glad that our university is taking a stand to make waves in water conservation.  I would hope that we’re keeping the pressure on ourselves to keep getting better and better,” Smith said.