Water Quality Program
Current Projects
Wastewater (hotlink to separate page)
Stormwater and Urban Runoff (hotlink to separate page)
Groundwater (hotlink to separate page)
Wellhead Protection Planning (hotlink to separate page)
Related Water Quality Planning Activities (hotlink to separate page)
208 Water Quality Management Plan (will need public review and comment)
NE 208 Amendment and Responsiveness Summary (hotlink to separate page)
Wastewater
As prescribed by Section 208 of Clean Water Act, wastewater discharges are addressed though a 20-year planning horizon. Wastewaters from point sources such as from wastewater treatment plants and large industrial facilities, and non-point sources such as from stormwater flows, are addressed in the water quality management plans (often referred to as 208 plans.) There are currently five water quality planning areas in Clark County. The borders of these areas are somewhat arbitrary. The Las Vegas Valley plan boundary is the Bureau of Land Management disposal boundary that was in place in 1997, which has since changed and requires an update through the amendment process. The County is further broken up into a Northeast County portion, a Northwest County portion, a South County portion, and a Laughlin portion.
Highly treated effluent discharged from the Las Vegas Valleys three area wastewater treatment plants (City of Las Vegas, City of Henderson, and the Clark County Water Reclamation District) into the Las Vegas Wash are carefully monitored by their respective agencies for volume and quality. This is also true of the wastewater effluent discharges from wastewater treatment plants in the outlying Clark County ommunities, such as Mesquite, Overton, and Laughlin. These volumes are very important for future planning as the effluent discharge into the Las Vegas Wash and the other water courses that discharge into Lake Mead and the Colorado River. It allows the Southern Nevada Water Authority (http://www.snwa.com/html/index.html) to withdraw an equal amount from Lake Mead and other points on the Colorado River as part of their water resource strategy.
Members from the area treatment facilities as well as the Water Quality Planning Team are part of the Sewage and Wastewater Advisory Committee (SWAC). This Committee is responsible for making recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners for future wastewater facility requirements and demands. The SWAC was responsible for initiating an Area-Wide Reuse Studythat became an amendment to the Las Vegas 208 Water Quality Management Plan.
Point Source Pollution Control. The control and elimination of point source pollution, including wastewater treatment plants, industrial discharges, and use of recycled water for irrigation, has been a long held goal for protecting water quality. Point sources are controlled through state and local permitting processes. The Water Quality Planning Team reviews proposed permit requirements to ensure proper protective measures and compliance with area 208 planning processes are implemented and addressed.
Stormwater and Urban Runoff
Stormwater and urban runoff from the Las Vegas Valley is channeled via a regional stormwater conveyance system. This water is considered to be a source of pollution as this flow carries sediment and debris from streets, construction and industrial sites and other surface and subsurface areas into the Las Vegas Wash and on to Lake Mead , our areas primary source of drinking water. Discharge of this water into the Las Vegas Wash is regulated by a National Pollution Discharge Elimination Permit issued by the State of Nevada. On June 16, 2003 the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP) issued National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit #NV0021911 as defined within 40 CFR 122.26. The Las Vegas Valley NPDES permit (Permit) authorizes Clark County, Clark County Regional Flood Control (CCRFCD), the cities of Henderson, Las Vegas & North Las Vegas (Committee), to discharge stormwater and urban runoff to the Las Vegas Wash. Legal negotiations concerned with what the State of Nevada can impose upon the local agencies have concluded. As a result of the Permit and legal negotiations, a Stormwater Management Plan (SWMP) was developed and adopted by CCRFCD's Board of Directors on November 13, 2003, on behalf of the Committee.
This Permit requires several area agencies including Clark County (collectively called the Stormwater Quality Management Committee) to monitor and control the degree of pollution discharged into the Las Vegas Wash through Best Management Practices (BMPs). Efforts are further described in their annual report.
Las Vegas Wash and Lake Mead. Over the years, the Las Vegas Wash has experienced severe erosion as a result of increasing flows caused by the growth of the Las Vegas area. This flow is expected to increase as the Valley continues to grow. Clark County Comprehensive Planning is a member of the Las Vegas Wash Coordination Committee which has helped develop the Las Vegas Wash Comprehensive Adaptive Management Plan. This Plan details how improvements within the Las Vegas Wash will occur and has been adopted as an implementation amendment to the Las Vegas Valley 208 Water Quality Management Plan. Many items listed within the Plan have already been completed. Some of which include construction of erosion control structures, planting of native trees to increase bank stabilization and habitat, and design of a community Wetlands Park.
Lake Mead Water Quality Forum The Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP) established the Lake Mead Water Quality Forum to protect public health and preserve the water quality of the Las Vegas Wash and Bay as well as Lake Mead.
Groundwater
Groundwater provides approximately 12% of the Valley's drinking water annually. Protection of this valuable source of water is important to the continued growth of the Las Vegas Valley. The Water Quality Planning Team works with area agencies to enact policy and ordinance to help protect the groundwater from sources of pollution and stabilize use of the resource. Sources of pollution can include septic systems, underground fuel tanks, industrial operations, and abandoned and improperly installed groundwater wells. The Water Quality Team is involved with the Southern Nevada Water Authority's Groundwater Management Program, which helps area well users who wish to connect to municipal systems with the costs involved.
Wellhead Protection Planning
Not available at this time.
Related Water Quality Planning Activities
Not available at this time.