Is Lake Mead Half Full or Half Empty?

Posted on August 22, 2007
Tag(s): Green Building, The Great Green Outdoors
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With dwindling water supplies, you might think efforts would be underway to dissuade rampant building growth, or to at least cut way back on water usage in Western cities like Las Vegas, Nevada. There’s now 1.9 million people living in the Vegas area, some of whom still insist on defying the natural desert landscape with lawns of green grass. Even some city parks leave the sprinklers on in over 100 degree heat.

Even though water is surprisingly cheap in the desert, thankfully, there have been some efforts to conserve water in recent years. Responsible builders are incorporating water conservation measures, like planting native desert landscaping. The city’s water district now pays homeowners to remove grass. Casinos recycle much of the water used in elaborate fountains and displays. The message to conserve must be getting out there because even per capita usage has fallen in recent years.

Another proposed solution, be it a $2.5-$3 billion one, is to build a pipeline to transport water from an aquifer in a remote area of Nevada to Las Vegas by 2015.

Source: Reuters