Water Smarts Podcast

It takes a lot of engineering and expertise to deliver water throughout the Las Vegas Valley. Buck Osborne, Operations Director for the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA), talks about how our water system is designed and maintained to ensure access to our water supply, even during emergencies and natural disasters. Buck shares how SNWA’s investment in our water infrastructure ensures a secure, reliable water supply.  

Hosts: Bro...

When Las Vegas Valley artesian springs ran dry decades ago, several species disappeared from the landscape. Rewilding projects at the Springs Preserve have helped rebuild the native habitat and protect endangered species like the Pahrump Poolfish, Relict Leopard Frog and Desert Tortoise. Dr. Ray Saumure, SNWA Senior Environmental Biologist, talks about the challenges of repopulating endangered species and how the discovery that the...

AB356—the Nevada law that prohibits use of Colorado River water to irrigate nonfunctional turf—takes effect Jan. 1, 2027. Mike Bernardo, SNWA Enterprise Conservation Manager, talks about the law and how SNWA can help property owners prepare. Mike also addresses community concerns about replacing grass with drip-irrigated plants and trees, and how new alternative grasses can be a water-smart option for thirsty lawns on the Water Sma...

Why doesn’t Las Vegas need water towers like in the Midwest? How is SNWA protecting the community’s water supply from the impacts of drought? How can homeowners get help paying to find and fix water leaks? Doa Ross, SNWA Deputy General Manager of Engineering, answers these questions and more on the Water Smarts Podcast, “ALWAYS ON TAP: Pipes & pumps keep water flowing in Las Vegas.”

Hosts: Bronson Mack and Crystal Zuelke

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Las Vegas owes its very existence to groundwater. Native peoples relied on natural springs that bubbled to the surface; early settlers farmed using water from the springs and groundwater aquifer; and Las Vegas became a townsite because the railroad needed a stop where it could refill its steam locomotive water tanks. The Las Vegas Springs stopped flowing in 1962, but Southern Nevada still relies on the groundwater aquifer for 10 pe...

Relief from the scorching summer heat is nearing, and it’s time to prep your yard for fall and winter. Horticulturist and arborist Joey Lynn from Star Nursery joins us to talk landscape tips and suggest plants and trees that thrive in the desert. Find out how you can have year-round color in your yard, when to prune plants, and what grows in your garden in the cooler months on the Water Smarts Podcast, “IN SEASON: Star Nursery’s ti...

Despite appearances, the Las Vegas Strip resorts only consume 6 percent of Southern Nevada’s water supply. MGM Resorts Vice President of Sustainability Michael Gulich, and SNWA Conservation Manager Mike Bernardo talk about how the hotels use water, including why the Bellagio Fountain does not impact Southern Nevada’s Colorado River water allocation. From replacing moats with artificial turf to testing new technologies, MGM Resorts ...

Leaks are an expensive nuisance, increasing your water bill and costing hundreds if not thousands of dollars to repair. They also impact the community’s water supply when you combine the water lost to leaks at all Southern Nevada homes and businesses. JC Davis, the director of Customer Care & Field Services at the Las Vegas Valley Water District (LVVWD), shares details about a new suite of programs from LVVWD and the Southern N...

Ever wonder what's in your tap water? You can find test results of the drinking water supply in your water agency’s Water Quality Report, which is published each summer. Carolyn Faircloth, the Water Quality Laboratory Manager for the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA), talks about the reports and addresses common questions about issues such as odor, taste and PFAS on the  Water Smarts Podcast, “STRAIGHT FROM THE TAP: What’...

Because Southern Nevada recycles 100% of the water it uses indoors, it’s important you know what you shouldn’t flush or put down the drain. Nearly all our wastewater is highly treated and returned to Lake Mead. Michael Phillips with the Clark County Water Reclamation District talks about how wastewater plays an important role in our water cycle, and how you can help protect our water supply on the Water Smarts Podcast, “TOILET OR T...

In Southern Nevada, grass is the largest consumer of the community’s water supply. But, did you know that the evaporative cooling systems chilling large buildings like hotels and schools are the second largest consumer of our water? The Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) has implemented a moratorium on new evaporative cooling systems and offers rebates for properties to upgrade or replace existing systems to more water-efficien...

The clock is ticking! AB356, the state law prohibiting use of Colorado River water to irrigate nonfunctional turf, takes effect in less than three years. Businesses, HOAs and multifamily properties need to replace grass with drip-irrigated plants and trees by Jan. 1, 2027. SNWA conservation expert Patrick Watson shares how SNWA can help property owners comply with the law and take advantage of the current Water Smarts Landscape reb...

It’s no secret the SNWA Water Smart Landscapes rebate helps property owners replace water-thirsty grass with drip-irrigated trees and plants. Now the cat’s out of the bag on the rebate’s increase to $5 per square foot. Learn how you can take advantage of this temporary increase from SNWA conservation expert Toby Bickmore on the Water Smarts Podcast, “REBATE RISING: Landscape rebate increased to $5 a sq ft for residential properties...

When Tropical Storm Hilary hit the Mount Charleston area, the resulting flood wiped away roads, downed power lines and washed out water mains. Las Vegas Valley Water District (LVVWD) crews were on the scene within hours of the storm assessing the damage and planning repairs to the badly damaged water system in the Kyle Canyon community. LVVWD’s Aaron Gamble and Tom Burns talk about the emergency response efforts that included helpi...

As Southern Nevada enters its third year under federally-declared shortage conditions, the community is thriving and surviving despite the water cuts. Colby Pellegrino, SNWA Deputy General Manager of Resources, talks about Colorado River Basin conditions, negotiations around future water supplies, and how conservation is helping the community live under shortage conditions. Hear more on this episode of the Water Smarts Podcast.

Host...

John Entsminger, Southern Nevada Water Authority general manager, recently joined Jeff Szabo, the CEO of the Suffolk County Water Authority (SCWA), for a lively discussion about East Coast vs. West Coast water issues. Serving 1.2 million people in New York, SCWA is one of the largest groundwater suppliers in the nation. While the sources of water for the two agencies differ, one thing is clear: conservation is key to ensuring the l...

Business leaders and the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) have collaborated on a Water Investment Rating tool to evaluate new businesses looking to locate in the community. The two-phase rating system relies on quantitative and qualitative calculations to determine the water footprint of new businesses and the benefit to the community. Dave Johnson, SNWA Deputy General Manager of Operations, shares insights into why the ratin...

The Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) has two new initiatives to encourage more tree plantings and expand the community’s urban forest. Zane Marshall, SNWA’s Director of Water Resources, shares details about how property owners can get a cash incentive of $100 per new tree planted as part of the Water Smart Landscapes Rebate. Marshall also talks about the long-term benefit of a robust urban forest on episode 43 of the Water Sm...