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Advisory Committee

In 1994, the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) began an integrated resource planning process to help the SNWA Board of Directors select the combination of resources, facilities and conservation programs to meet future water demands in Southern Nevada. Integrated resource planning brings important concepts to traditional resource and facility planning that include:

  • Involving the public early in the planning process
  • Analyzing supply and demand solutions
  • Considering different community goals
  • Analyzing the tradeoffs among different goals

Community Involvement

The SNWA Board created the SNWA Integrated Resource Planning Advisory Committee (IRPAC), consisting of 21 citizens from the local community.

The committee helped the Water Authority and its member agencies address and plan for water and wastewater issues in Southern Nevada. The IRPAC members agreed upon a series of recommendations, including the creation of a quarter-penny sales tax and a phased increase in regional connection charges to pay for the capital improvements.

Recommendations

At the end of Phase 1 in June 1995, the SNWA Board of Directors adopted the 19 recommendations made by the citizens committee. These recommendations focused on the overall planning issues:  resources to pursue, facilities to build if any, and levels of conservation to achieve.

Summary of Phase 1 Recommendations

  • Colorado River water is the top priority resource option, rather than the Cooperative Water Project or the Virgin River pipeline
  • Build phased Colorado River treatment and transmission facilities as quickly as possible
  • Achieve 10 to 15 percent reduction in maximum-day water demand by summer 2000
  • Study conservation immediately to see if more can be achieved
  • Research ways to finance facilities

In October 1995, SNWA began Phase 2 of the Integrated Resource Plan. The overall intent of Phase 2 was to reach a common understanding on major facilities, financial issues and water quality (treatment) issues.

Summary of Phase 2 Recommendations

  • Phase in regional connection charge to avoid business disruption
  • Phase in water rate increases to avoid rate shock
  • Study and implement alternative revenue sources as quickly as possible
  • Provide conservation incentives immediately
  • The sales tax and water excise tax are the most promising alternative revenue sources
  • Connection charges should still provide at least 50 percent of the total revenue mix
  • A portion of any sales tax increase should be used for regional wastewater facilities
  • Pricing water for conservation should be pursued, but left to local purveyors
  • Ozonation should be added to direct filtration at the regional water treatment facilities