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Las Vegas the only locality to pull plug on its playgrounds

Las Vegas, the meadow oasis in the desert, is more desert than oasis lately. With drought conditions increasing, local municipalities are taking action to restrict business, government and residential water use.

All over the valley these restrictions have included limiting commercial water fountains and waterfalls, and decreasing residential and commercial turf watering.

Las Vegas took the water restrictions a step further when city officials decided to turn off all the water playground features in city parks, beginning Aug. 1.

Deputy City Manager Steve Houchens said turning off the playground systems was a step dictated by the City Council's adoption of the Southern Nevada Water Authority's drought plan.

"In the ordinance passed by our City Council it included all water fixtures and we took it literally," Houchens explained.

Clark County Parks and Community Services representative Leslie Mihalko said the county parks have not gone that far.

"We are not turning ours off," she said. "The water authority ordinance stipulates that you can keep those types of units operational for leisure use. We don't have many of them, five. And they're not continuously running. We feel like the children need these facilities."

Henderson Parks and Recreation officials were unavailable for comment, but so far the water playgrounds in their city are still on.

Turning off water playgrounds is only one step Las Vegas is taking to conserve water. Additional restrictions include restriction of mist cooling systems for commercial businesses to hours between noon and 10 p.m. until Sept. 1 when mister systems may not be used at all. Residents may wash their car at home once a week, with a shut-off nozzle on their hose.

Landscape watering restrictions, including assigned day watering and restrictions on turf in new business projects, will be adopted soon.

Businesses can apply for waivers to the ordinances if they think their water features are a necessity for business operations, or if they think their features are attracting people to the community.

Southern Nevada Water Authority representative Tracy Bower said the restrictions were taken on by all the municipalities in the area as part of a unified drought plan.

Bower said every segment of the community has been asked to do its part. Businesses are asked to give up mist systems and water features. Golf courses have taken on mandatory watering restrictions, and residents are being asked to cut water use.

As for when the restrictions will be removed, that seems to be anyone's guess.

"It's up to Mother Nature," Bower said. "The drought is what is driving a lot of these restrictions."

The drought, cited by many to be the worst on record, has resulted in a 70-foot drop in Lake Mead's water levels in the last three years. Reduced flows of water from the Colorado River, the source for 90 percent of the area's water, mean restrictions won't be loosened soon.

"It could take several years of above average snowfall in the Rockies to bring lake levels back to normal," Bower said.

For Las Vegas residents, the restrictions could last at least until spring.

"I think it just depends on the drought and in large part to what kind of a snow pack they have in the basin," Houchens said. "What happens in the Rockies in Colorado, Wyoming and Utah is what really affects us. The snow pack and the resulting runoff from that is what we use for water. It will be six months away before we start to see any indication of improvement."

Bower said for now, the valley is in drought watch -- the first stage of a three-part water restriction plan. In the next stage, drought alert, watering will be limited to three days a week. All new turf will be restricted to parks and schools. A citizens advisory committee is now at work identifying restrictions for the final stage, drought emergency.

Bower said she's happy to see everyone pitching in.

"We're asking for each segment of the population to do something to help out. It's not up to one particular group of the community to make all of the changes. It's really up to the entire community," she said.

Houchens said Las Vegas has had few complaints about the shutdown of water features at parks.

"We've had some people ask questions at some parks, but it seems like once you explain to them that there is a drought and we're trying to conserve water, they pretty much understand," he said. "What we consume is probably a small fraction of what is consumed individually by residents in terms of watering lawns. We're doing a little bit here and a little bit there to save water. Hopefully, people will see that and maybe they can apply that to the water they control."

Bower said even this far into summer, it's not too late to save water.

"You'd be surprised. People waste more water in the fall than they do any other time of year. It's easy to remember to turn your sprinkler timers up in the spring, but not everyone turns them back down in the fall."

In addition to restrictions, the Water Authority provides residents with incentives to save water. Bower said home or business owners who are interested in converting their grass to desert landscaping can get a $1 per square foot credit for doing so.

The authority also provides a rebate to residents who replace outdated irrigation clocks. Frequently, the rebate pays half the price for the new clock. Before applying for any rebate or making any landscaping changes, residents must contact the Water Authority at 258-SAVE.

More information on drought restrictions are available on the authority's Web site at www.SNWA.com. Information specific to Las Vegas can be found through the Drought Watch link on the city of Las Vegas home page at www.ci.las-vegas.nv.us.


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