History of SNWA

SNWA is a regional agency that secures long-term water resources, encourages conservation and ensures water quality standards are met.

In 1991, seven local water agencies formed the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) to address water issues on a regional basis, rather than an individual water purveyor basis.

The Water Authority is committed to managing the region's water resources and developing solutions that will ensure adequate future water supplies for Southern Nevada.

SNWA manages and operates the Southern Nevada Water System (SNWS), which began operations in 1971. The federal government officially transferred SNWS to the Water Authority in 2001. SNWS includes water treatment facilities that pump, treat and deliver Colorado River water from Lake Mead to the Las Vegas Valley.

We are meeting the demands of a thirsty region

In 1994, SNWA began preparing a regional capital improvements plan to meet increasing water demands. Now actively under construction, this improvements plan will ensure that water from the depths of Lake Mead receives superior water treatment and is delivered reliably to the taps of Southern Nevadans. This project is designed in a phased approach to consistently increase capacity as demand increases.