Southern Nevada Water Bank

Beginning in 1987, Water Authority member agencies North Las Vegas and the Las Vegas Valley Water District began pumping treated Colorado River water into the valley’s primary groundwater aquifer.

In the years since the program began, the two agencies have collectively stored more than 320,000 acre-feet (roughly 104 billion gallons) of water in the local groundwater basin for future use.

Artificial recharge

The process by which this water is stored is called “artificial recharge.” It is called “artificial” because water in the principal groundwater aquifer normally originates from mountain snow pack. In the case of the Southern Nevada Groundwater Bank, unused Colorado River water is injected directly into the aquifer by wells.

Keeping water in reserve

Although it might seem tempting to forego conservation measures and simply withdraw some of that stored water from the groundwater bank during this period of drought, it is important that the community keep these reserves on hand for an emergency or as a bridge to future resources. Maintaining a healthy balance in the Southern Nevada Groundwater Bank provides assurances to the community that we are prepared to weather an extended drought.

Permanent Recharge

While the Southern Nevada Groundwater Bank is a resource upon which the community can draw in times of need, SNWA also sponsors a permanent recharge program to protect the groundwater aquifer. Through this permanent recharge program known as the Las Vegas Valley Groundwater Management Program, the Water Authority has stored approximately 9,303 acre-feet of water.

This recharge water is not intended for future use, but helps manage the groundwater aquifer for well users. This recharge water helps maintain stable water levels and reduce the likelihood of subsidence and well failures.