Pump Station a Better Defense Against Drought

The term “deep dive” took on new meaning in the 55-month, $331-million program to ensure a reliable drinking water supply for the Las Vegas Valley, home to 2.2 million residents and host to more than 33 million visitors each year. Decades of drought have left Lake Mead at less than 40% of its 26-million-acre-ft capacity, so the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) faced the prospect of water levels dropping below its two existing pump stations at the lake.