County commissioners to discuss water conservation

Nye County commissioners are set to discuss the groundwater management plan on Tuesday, but some say it's too early to make any decisions.

Commissioner Butch Borasky said he still wants to hear from more well owners before officials determine the fate of the Basin 162 Groundwater Management Plan that seeks to regulate new domestic wells and water usage in Pahrump.

"I'm trying to make sure that everybody has an opportunity to put input into what's going to happen," Borasky said ahead of the meeting.

During the meeting in October members of the Nye County Water District Governing Board decided to pass the sixth draft of the plan to Nye County commissioners, after it drew ire from local residents. The decision came after the plan had been in the works for almost two years.

The revised version of the plan presented at the October meeting included recommendations for water education and importation, a limit on new domestic well usage to 0.5 an acre foot, construction of rapid infiltration basins and a water conservation plan that included restraints on water uses for agriculture, utility customers, government and school facilities.

In an effort to gather more information from those who would be affected by the proposed plan, Borasky organized two meetings for domestic well owners in Pahrump that will take place next week regardless of the commission's decision.

"There are a lot of people out there telling me that they haven't had a chance to voice their opinion," Borasky said.

The meetings are scheduled for Friday, Dec.18 from 6 to 8 p.m. and Saturday, Jan.9 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m at the Bob Ruud Community Center, located at 150 N. Highway 160.

-Contact reporter Daria Sokolova at dsokolova@pvtimes.com