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FACT BRIEF

Is Nevada considering a proposal to restrict water use in Las Vegas?

By Austin Tannenbaum
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YES

A bill introduced in the Nevada Assembly last month would limit the water supply of single-family residences that receive their water from the Colorado River to half an acre-foot, or roughly 163,000 gallons per year. Southern Nevada gets nearly 90% of its water from the river.

The provision would apply when a federal declaration of a shortage on the Colorado River is in effect. Since one currently is, it would take effect immediately.

Households that exceed the limit would have their water shut off by the Southern Nevada Water Authority. Agency representatives said the threshold would only impact the top 20% of Las Vegas water users. The average customer in the Las Vegas Valley uses 130,000 gallons per year.

The Colorado River, which is used by Nevada and six other states, has been depleted by overuse, poor runoff conditions and prolonged drought accelerated by climate change.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
Nevada Legislature AB220 Text
CNBC Nevada considers plan to restrict water use for Las Vegas residents
US Department of the Interior Interior Department Announces Actions to Protect Colorado River System, Sets 2023 Operating Conditions for Lake Powell and Lake Mead
Las Vegas Valley Water District Where your water comes from
New Scientist Why the Colorado river is drying up – and what we can do about it
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The Nevada Independent
The Nevada Independent is a nonpartisan, nonprofit news and opinion website founded in 2017 by veteran political journalist and commentator Jon Ralston. The site and its supporting channels are focused on ethical, unbiased and transparent journalism. In general, we aim to gather and disseminate important public information and increase civic engagement. We are supported by corporate donations, memberships, event ticket sales and sponsorships and foundation grants. We disclose all our members and donors. Donors have no influence over our content, ever. The Nevada Independent is the dba for Nevada News Bureau, Inc., a 501(c)3 nonprofit founded in 2010 by Elizabeth Thompson, who now serves as one of The Nevada Independent's managing directors and its Editor.
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Fact briefs are short, credibly sourced summaries that offer “yes/no” answers in response to claims found online. They rely on publicly available, often primary source data and documents. Fact briefs are created by contributors to Gigafact —a nonprofit project looking to expand participation in fact-checking and protect the democratic process. See all fact briefs here.