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• Current Reclaimed Resources
• Return Flow Credits

Reclaimed Water & Reuse

Reclaimed water allows Southern
Nevada to stretch its limited water
supplies.

Southern Nevada currently reclaims all of its wastewater, either through return-flow credits or direct reuse – treating the wastewater and using it without sending the water back to Lake Mead.

For example, a portion of Boulder City’s wastewater is treated and then used at sand and gravel operations. The City of Las Vegas provides reclaimed water to a power plant and several golf courses for irrigation, and the City of Henderson also provides reclaimed water for irrigation of golf courses, schools and parks.

Recycled water accounts for roughly 40 percent of the water used in Southern Nevada, making it our second largest water resource and a critical piece of our water resource portfolio. The Southern Nevada Regional Water Recycling Study outlines the valley's current recycling efforts and makes recommendations for regional policies.

Reclaimed Colorado River Water

Reclaimed Colorado River water has both environmental sustainability and cost advantages. However, this reuse does not extend Southern Nevada's Colorado River allocation because the water is not flowing back into Lake Mead but instead is used around the valley for irrigation or other purposes.

Southern Nevada’s total resource "pie" does not change when more wastewater is used to meet a reuse demand rather than returned to Lake Mead for return-flow credits. As wastewater reuse increases, the area's return-flow credits will decrease because less water is returned to the lake.

Full Consumptive Use/Recycled In-State Groundwater Resources

Development of in-state groundwater resources will create additional wastewater that, if treated and reused, has the potential to increase their yield. The Southern Nevada Water Authority will reclaim in-state groundwater through direct reuse or accounting for these imports as consumptive use prior to reaching Lake Mead.