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Nov. 06, 2007
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

EASTERN NEVADA: Bigger pipeline plan floated

Water authority's high-end estimate reaches $3.5 billion

By HENRY BREAN
REVIEW-JOURNAL

Kay Brothers, deputy general manager of the Southern Nevada Water Authority, discusses the agency's new $3.5 billion cost estimate for the pipeline network planned across Eastern Nevada.
Photo by Clint Karlsen.

If construction began today, it could cost as much as $3.5 billion to build a network of pipelines from eastern Nevada to thirsty Las Vegas, according to the latest projection by the Southern Nevada Water Authority.

That's almost enough money to build a Wynn in Las Vegas and a Wynn in Macau, or keep former Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez under contract through the 2147 season.

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It is also $1.5 billion higher than the cost projection the water authority has been using since 2005, though authority officials said the larger figure represents an expanded version of the project, not a massive cost increase.

The new estimate is for the largest pipeline the authority would build, a 591-mile behemoth that would deliver as much as 200,000 acre-feet of groundwater a year from wells across rural Clark, Lincoln and White Pine counties.

The more conservative, $2 billion estimate that was developed two years ago contemplated a pipeline network covering 421 miles and sized to deliver 125,000 acre-feet of water per year.

"I think we're going to build a project that's between the two," said Kay Brothers, deputy general manager of the water authority.

One acre-foot of water is roughly the amount used each year at two Las Vegas homes.

The authority will deliver its new cost estimate today to the federal Bureau of Land Management, which requested the figure as part of its environmental review of the pipeline project.

If the review wraps up as expected in August 2009, construction of the pipeline could get under way that fall, Brothers said.

Officials have yet to decide how to pay for the pipeline project.

At present, the water authority funds large capital projects using connection charges paid as new homes and businesses hook up to the valley's water system, sales tax revenue, water rates and reliability surcharges paid by customers.

Pending state and federal approval, the pipeline project is slated to go online by 2015, though groundwater from the areas closest to Las Vegas could arrive as early as 2012.

Brothers said it's difficult to know what might happen to the cost and scope of the project between now and then. "It could go up as things get more expensive. It could come down if we don't get as much water."

Even $3.5 billion seems wildly optimistic to some pipeline opponents.

"This is clearly a low-ball estimate," said Bob Fulkerson, executive director for the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada. "I'm really suspicious of how they calculate their numbers. I think they're throwing darts at a board."

Fulkerson said the authority would be better served by investing the public's money in programs designed to reduce the demand for water in Las Vegas. "Conservation is a proven source," he said. "The pipeline is a major gamble as to whether that water is even there."

But Brothers said the real gamble is for Southern Nevada to continue to rely on the Colorado River for 90 percent of its water supply.

"You can't afford not to do it," she said of building the pipeline. "There isn't another source to use."

Contact reporter Henry Brean at hbrean@reviewjournal.com or (702) 383-0350.

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Please enter your name Name: Please enter your email Email: Please enter a comment COMMENTS : (word count limit is 300) You have reached the maximum number of words allowed Current Word Count: jl wrote on November 15, 2007 02:53 PM: Some folks never learn from LADWP's expropriation of the water from the Owen's Valley do they. Roger wrote on November 06, 2007 08:44 PM: This echos the Yucca Mountain boondoggle. Up the price each year to the point where the project economically starves itself. And Vegas deserves to be starved. Those idiots have a very long way to go when it comes to water conservation. We were driving through the poorly planned community of Summerlin in September when Vegas finally got some good rain. What a surprise to see the sprinklers going on those upscale community lawns while it as down pouring! Waste, waste and more waste! The good news is that Vegas will never likely fully recover from the forclosure hit it is taking. The media does not like to report ho growth is stopping in the Sin S**hole. Vegas Vic wrote on November 06, 2007 08:14 PM: Their HIGH estimate is $3.5 billion? I think THEY'RE high coming in with such a low number. Great idea the SNWA has. Spend billions upon billions of dollars to suck rural Nevada dry to support out of control growth in the Las Vegas valley. My question is what happens once the aquifers have been sucked dry? The drought not only affects surface water, it affects the recharge rate of the aquifers. Less precipitation, less recharge. Less recharge, less water available. Pump too much water out of an aquifer and it can "shut down" and never recharge. Ely Local wrote on November 06, 2007 11:51 AM: There is nothing that we in the rural areas in Nevada can do to stop the onslaught the SNWA purposes. The idea of conserving water, limiting growth, or God forbid reducing growth in Las Vegas is not even on the table for these people. My advice, sell abd move out before it's too late. ws wrote on November 06, 2007 11:34 AM: 1 million residents maybe 400,000 paying a water bill every month, $200 per month average 12*400,000 = $960,000,000/yr. now what is the problem again? I bet a rate increase will be needed . . . . . . . . Ray Walker wrote on November 06, 2007 11:32 AM: Nevada "Water Poker". Nevada has been dealt a straight flush ! SNWA can peek at the cards for free. The cards clearly reveal a vast new water Source for Nevada. The Ace guarantees that no one's water rights anywhere will be damaged by development. The King assures the legal right to acquire. The Queen's fountain yields 750,000 acre feet per year. The Jack shines with fresh water. The Ten balances environmental concerns. Nevada's hand yields a Billion dollar savings for SNWA, but, will Nevada & SNWA look at the cards ? Ray Walker (Retired Water Rights Analyst) waterrdw@yahoo.com RussBBinVegas@aol.com wrote on November 06, 2007 10:31 AM: This project would be completely laughable if it weren't such an inevitable calamity. Of course everyone living here knows that Las Vegas is already over-built, and to think that there are billions & billions (obviously the estimate is fallaciously low) available to keep bringing ever more braindead partying hordes into Sin City merely so megalomaniac casino owners & sheister real-estate developers can stash more gazillions in profits into their greasy greedy hands. When is Nevada going to get LEADERSHIP besides a drunken mayor & a simple-tool governor to start saying NO to the merciless exploitation & devastation of finite natural resources & quality of life in this precious state. joe wrote on November 06, 2007 09:34 AM: It's a shame Eastern Nevada is going to pay for Las Vegas's irresponsible growth and lack of water conservation. Even with water from these counties I don't believe for 1 second that it'll be nearly enough to offset the shortage we're going to face in a decade unless we get serious about this problem. With the corrupt politicians we have I won't hold my breath to see that happen. BR wrote on November 06, 2007 07:52 AM: All us little people know how it will be paid for. We also know the enviro-wackos will throw up all kinds of hurdles that will delay construction for years. The current cost estimate is naturally low-balled that will become a fast high-ball. Lawrence Hyde wrote on November 06, 2007 07:31 AM: Vegas will not rest until all of the eastern counties in Nevada are arid deserts. And where is the great and wondrous Harry Reid. Sitting on his ____ because it does not bring any money into his coffers by opposing it. He claims to be a great environmentalist unless it it what Vegas wants then he don't care.