By Mark Waite
State studies show recharge in Pahrump Valley is primarily from winter precipitation in the Spring Mountains, but a proposed water conservation plan released by Utilities Inc. of Central Nevada states the groundwater isn’t susceptible to significant fluctuations in water level caused by a three-year drought due to the lag time between recharge in the Spring Mountains and movement into the basin aquifer.
Water levels on the valley floor are declining more than a half foot per year while on the alluvial fan they are recharging at a rate greater than one foot per year, UICN states.
UICN says drought mitigation measures can be implemented when the States Drought Response Committee declares a drought.
In the event of a stage one drought, UICN could prohibit outdoor water use between 1 p.m. and 7 p.m.; permit outdoor water use three days per week; require on/off nozzles on hoses for vehicles; prohibit washing building exteriors; prohibit irrigation flooding and water running off properties; require leaky faucets, sprinklers or plumbing fixtures to be repaired within 24 hours; require recirculating pumps on evaporative coolers and encourage restaurants to serve water on request.
A stage two drought alert would further reduce the frequency of outdoor water use; require new landscaping to comply with ordinances; ask customers to voluntarily reduce water use 25 percent; institute drought rates and reduce water for street cleaning and landscaping public parks.
Mandatory retrofits of shower heads and toilets when buildings are remodeled would occur in a stage three drought, laws requiring swimming pool covers and a prohibition on running water fountains. A stage four drought would trigger a ban on using water outdoors except twice each week to irrigate vegetable gardens and a weekly watering of bushes and trees.
And where did this come from? Las Vegas style water laws in Pahrump when its never been an issue out here? I have to wonder who is going to enforce it?
IF this water issue is true, it should trigger instant stoppage of all discussion of the 22 soccer fields (AKA Fairgrounds), amusement parks, and ANY new businesses. If it does not, don’t expect me or anyone else to take this seriously and even think about conserving a drop.
This whole “require new landscaping to comply with ordinances” means someone better get ready to write checks for those with grass lawns because people dont have the money to do any upgrades in this recession that seemingly never ends.
If water tables are unsustainable .. then no more growth.
I totally agree about stoppage of any plans for soccer fields or any other water sucking developments…
Makes me glad I AM NOT a “UICN”dependent customer! Having your own water well can at times be a pain in the rear but when something like this happens, it makes it all worth it. Now this doesn’t mean I waste water! NO I still conserve water but do so on my terms, not as dictated by some over powered, under worked, want to be utility company who has done nothing for the town of Pahrump but offer less services and charge more every time you read about them in the paper. Worse thing is that they are not even a local business!
Can anybody explain to me how this finding shows we are in a severe drought and need to restrict water use??
“Water levels on the valley floor are declining more than a half foot per year while on the alluvial fan they are recharging at a rate greater than one foot per year, UICN states.”
apparently we all missed the memo that suggested we were in (or close to) a severe drought ???
I remember posting earlier in the year that whenever a town gets a “Water board” its BOOM Instant water crisis. Everyone told me I was a nutcase back then.. lol told you so.
It’s all mumbo-jumbo. I went to those meetings and they don’t HAVE any studies on refresh rates more current than 2000. If those stats are true, WHO and WHY have subdivisions, golf with lakes, etc. been approved by the County? Who benefited from these decisions? Where are the studies on the evaporation rate of water in artificial lakes in this valley? Why keep pumping precious water into them?
If we allow our basin to be declared at risk, there is a MOUNTAIN of Nevada statutes that will be enforced. STEP 1: DO NOT ALLOW our basin to be declared at risk just because of some articles in newspapers and chat around the coffee machine. Ask for more facts and demand action from County Commissioners BEFORE they start imposing regulations on residences.
The more this topic surfaces the more suspicious it gets. Why? Who will benefit from taking our water?
If Nevada is in such a drought especially Las Vegas, then why are they building 2 huge water parks when the people that live there have to conserve? What about the fountains all over Las Vegas?? Why did we have to spend all that money on the pond at the eye if water is so precious? You see water running down the Postal drive road all the time, and water in the street on 160 by the Saddle West and many more places, better start enforcing the conservation on them first.