LAS VEGAS (KLAS) – The I-Team has learned that a state water shortage declaration is expected on the Colorado River on Monday. That would trigger some mandatory cuts.
Lake Mead, where we get 90% of our water, is currently at record lows.
The inhabitants of the valley are encouraged to save water. Now the I-Team takes a look at the residents who are considered to be the most used.
These lists include houses that used the most water in 2020. Some of them may have been sold since last year, and some homeowners may have changed their landscaping since then.
In many cases, the plots are with large houses, says a water district spokesman. In some cases there are a pool or two and lots of grass.
What was used to water this lawn comes from Lake Mead. It’s at an all-time low. So water is a resource that we should all try to conserve.
“I think the average resident of southern Nevada needs to know who is using the most water,” said Kyle Roerink of the Great Basin Water Network.
These include casino moguls, business leaders, musicians, athletes, doctors, and lawyers. The I team has received these lists showing the main water users in residential areas as the west faces a crisis.
“Our water situation is currently unprecedented,” said Roerink.
Roerink is the executive director of the Great Basin Water Network, which is committed to protecting water. He points out the very first defect expected to be declared Lake Mead.
“I have the feeling that the people who consume the exorbitant amounts of water every year are not in touch with reality,” said Roerink.
At the top of the list is a house that is recorded to belong to the Prince of Brunei. The Las Vegas Valley Water District reports that its Spanish Trail property consumed more than 12 million gallons of water in 2020. That is about 100 times more than the average household consumption.
According to Bronson Mack of the Las Vegas Valley Water District, 20% of customers use around 40% of the water.
“We have a very high quality group of customers who use a significant amount of water,” said Mack.
Second on the list is a Summerlin home, which is recorded to be owned by the Adelson family.
Also in the top ten – the Greenspun family. Ironically, newspaper owner Brian Greenspun handed his column over to the general manager of the Southern Nevada Water Authority for an article on water conservation in the Las Vegas Sun a week ago.
The I-Team has uncovered concentrations of top water users in some of the highest quality gated communities.
The homeowners in the so-called “Billionaire Row” in Summerlin at the TPC golf course include Steve Wynn, David Copperfield as well as Lorenzo and Victoria Fertitta – all in the top ten of the city of Las Vegas.
On the MacDonald Ranch, a house that is recorded to belong to Nancy Walton – a member of the family who started Walmart – is number 5 in the city of Henderson.
Celine Dion’s Lake Las Vegas home is listed as # 12 in Henderson. Mike Tysons is # 30.
In the city of Las Vegas, NBA player DeMarcus Cousins is number 16. Aja Volkman, singer and wife of Imagine Dragons frontman Dan Reynolds, is number 61. Floyd Mayweather is number 84.
Five Finger Death Punch member Zoltan Bathory has two properties in Las Vegas and Henderson, both of which are in the top 100.
“It shows what we’ve seen for years in southern Nevada that people with more power and more money tend to use a lot more water, but we’re all stuck together right now,” said Roerink.
Great efforts are being made to get homeowners to replace their lawn with artificial turf and there is a discount available for that.
The Las Vegas Valley Water District, for example, targets zip codes with high water usage, with mailers reminding of water restrictions and discounts.
The City of Henderson also offers discount programs to residents and businesses.
