Evaluating the Impacts of Water Conservation Policies on Water Demand, Availability and Outdoor Water Use in the Las Vegas Valley

Evaluating the Impacts of Water Conservation Policies on Water Demand, Availability and Outdoor Water Use in the Las Vegas Valley PDF Author: Kamal Qaiser
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Water conservation
Languages : en
Pages : 186

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Book Description
The Las Vegas Valley faces a challenge in meeting its future water needs. Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA), the main water management agency in the Valley, is focusing on water conservation to reduce water demand. Current water use is 945 lpcd (250 gpcd) which SNWA aims to reduce to 752 lpcd (199 gpcd) by 2035. Presently the indoor outdoor water use proportion is about 40:60 in the Valley. An important component of the Valley's supply are the return flow credits which SNWA gets for the Colorado river water that they return back to the river. The credits process allows SNWA to withdraw additional one unit of river water for every unit of treated river water returned. The objectives of this research are (i) evaluating the extent to which the present available water supply can fulfill the water demand in the Valley in the future. This involves assessing the impacts of various water conservation policies and population projections on water supply and demand in the Las Vegas Valley (ii) evaluating the magnitude and interrelationship of the different outdoor water use components, their response to water conservation policies and their potential for water savings. This involves quantifying outdoor water use in response to water conservation, estimating the effect of nitrate loading in reuse water on the quality of shallow groundwater, and evaluating the potential for water savings from turf replacement in the Valley. To accomplish the research objectives, a water balance simulation model for the Valley has been developed, which documents the water cycle of the Valley and can be used to explore several what-if questions. System Dynamics (SD) modeling approach and software tool Stella are used to develop the model that runs the simulations from 1993 to 2035. The second policy explores the effect of conserving water only on the outdoor side. The third policy considers equal conservation both on the indoor and outdoor side while the fourth policy considers 67% outdoor and 33% indoor water use conservation. The fifth policy considers conserving water only on the indoor side. The results from the model for the first objective reveal the importance of outdoor water conservation and present it as a key solution. Water consumption decrease from 945 lpcd to 752 lpcd if met completely through outdoor conservation, generates the highest return flow credits. For the second objective the all outdoor conservation scenario gives the highest value of return flow credits and the least valucomponentscommponents of outdoor water use. The results can be a guide in developingoutdoortive outoor water conservation policies and the water balance model can be potentially used in helping policy makers make informed decisions on various water management issues--adapted from abstract.

Evaluating the Impacts of Water Conservation Policies on Water Demand, Availability and Outdoor Water Use in the Las Vegas Valley

Evaluating the Impacts of Water Conservation Policies on Water Demand, Availability and Outdoor Water Use in the Las Vegas Valley PDF Author: Kamal Qaiser
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Water conservation
Languages : en
Pages : 186

Get Book Here

Book Description
The Las Vegas Valley faces a challenge in meeting its future water needs. Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA), the main water management agency in the Valley, is focusing on water conservation to reduce water demand. Current water use is 945 lpcd (250 gpcd) which SNWA aims to reduce to 752 lpcd (199 gpcd) by 2035. Presently the indoor outdoor water use proportion is about 40:60 in the Valley. An important component of the Valley's supply are the return flow credits which SNWA gets for the Colorado river water that they return back to the river. The credits process allows SNWA to withdraw additional one unit of river water for every unit of treated river water returned. The objectives of this research are (i) evaluating the extent to which the present available water supply can fulfill the water demand in the Valley in the future. This involves assessing the impacts of various water conservation policies and population projections on water supply and demand in the Las Vegas Valley (ii) evaluating the magnitude and interrelationship of the different outdoor water use components, their response to water conservation policies and their potential for water savings. This involves quantifying outdoor water use in response to water conservation, estimating the effect of nitrate loading in reuse water on the quality of shallow groundwater, and evaluating the potential for water savings from turf replacement in the Valley. To accomplish the research objectives, a water balance simulation model for the Valley has been developed, which documents the water cycle of the Valley and can be used to explore several what-if questions. System Dynamics (SD) modeling approach and software tool Stella are used to develop the model that runs the simulations from 1993 to 2035. The second policy explores the effect of conserving water only on the outdoor side. The third policy considers equal conservation both on the indoor and outdoor side while the fourth policy considers 67% outdoor and 33% indoor water use conservation. The fifth policy considers conserving water only on the indoor side. The results from the model for the first objective reveal the importance of outdoor water conservation and present it as a key solution. Water consumption decrease from 945 lpcd to 752 lpcd if met completely through outdoor conservation, generates the highest return flow credits. For the second objective the all outdoor conservation scenario gives the highest value of return flow credits and the least valucomponentscommponents of outdoor water use. The results can be a guide in developingoutdoortive outoor water conservation policies and the water balance model can be potentially used in helping policy makers make informed decisions on various water management issues--adapted from abstract.

Using Climate Models to Predict Water Supply and Demand in Las Vegas Valley

Using Climate Models to Predict Water Supply and Demand in Las Vegas Valley PDF Author: Ranjan Parajuli
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Climatology
Languages : en
Pages : 184

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Book Description
This study investigated the impact of changing climate and growing population on water supply and demand in one of the most rapidly growing cities in the semi-arid regions of western US, Las Vegas Valley (LVV), Nevada. Future scenarios of supply and demand using climate and hydrological models of Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 3 (CMIP3) and a more recent CMIP5 have been evaluated and a comparison of their results has been made. A system dynamics model for LVV was developed with a period of study from 1989 to 2049. For the study area, climate and hydrological data projections for the future period (2013-2049) were obtained from the outputs of 16 Global Climate Models (GCMs) of CMIP3 model ensemble with 3 emission scenarios and that from 37 GCMs of CMIP5 model ensemble with 4 Representative concentration pathways. Population growth forecast by Center for Business and Economic Research (CBER) and prevalent conservation practices by Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) were used for the model. The water availability scenario in the future for LVV in the form of Lake Mead elevation was assessed and the water demand was also predicted. This study found that mean lake elevation for the future period (2013-2049) can go as low as 21.8% lesser than that for the historical period (1989-2012). 59 of 97 projections of CMIP5 models against 27 of 48 projections of CMIP3 models indicated that the future mean lake elevation would be lower than the historical mean. Demand forecasts showed Southern Nevada Water Authority conservation goal for 2035 could be met under prevalent conservation practices. This study can be very useful for the water managers and planners to predict the future water budget, plan accordingly, and make decisions to achieve water sustainability. This study has been performed as a part of the Thriving Earth Exchange (TEX) program to assess the current vulnerability of LVV to drought, and the impact on supply and demand of water resources for the future climate scenarios.

Selected Water Resources Abstracts

Selected Water Resources Abstracts PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Water
Languages : en
Pages : 1060

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Socioeconomic Impacts of Water Conservation

Socioeconomic Impacts of Water Conservation PDF Author: Janice A. Beecher
Publisher: American Water Works Association
ISBN: 9781583210772
Category : Water conservation
Languages : en
Pages : 216

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State Water Conservation Planning Guide

State Water Conservation Planning Guide PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Water conservation
Languages : en
Pages : 122

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Saving Water in a Desert City

Saving Water in a Desert City PDF Author: William E. Martin
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1317352963
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 162

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Book Description
This book was stimulated by and sets out to analyse a political battle over water pricing by a municipal system. Originally published in 1984, this title provides improved methods for demand function estimation where block rates are involved, suggests procedures for rational pricing of municipal water, and explains how politics can dominate when real decisions are made. Due to the additional virtue of this title being easy to read, it is ideal for students interested in environmental studies, economics, and policy making, as well as for those involved with municipal services and resource management in general.

Evaluating Urban Water Conservation Programs

Evaluating Urban Water Conservation Programs PDF Author: Planning and Management Consultants, Ltd
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 310

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Long-term Effects of Conservation Rates

Long-term Effects of Conservation Rates PDF Author: Vista Consulting Group
Publisher: American Water Works Association
ISBN: 0898679044
Category : Municipal water supply
Languages : en
Pages : 120

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Book Description
Chapter 1 is the Introduction. Chapter 2 addresses particular conservation pricing strategies and the relationship between rate design and conservation. It is not only the size of the price change that determines the demand response but also the rate structure implemented. Inverted rate, summer seasonal rate and summer/winter differential rate structures are discussed in this chapter. Chapter 3 of the report is a practical guide and discussion of the price elasticity of water demand. The chapter provides an overview of what has been learned thus far about demand responses to price changes under varying circumstances, assumptions, and pricing strategies based on the experience of hundreds of water utilities. The chapter focuses on what utility managers should learn from the results of these studies so they can apply these results to their conservation pricing efforts. Chapter 4 is a special treatment of the long-term impacts of conservation pricing. It is much more difficult to estimate long-run price elasticities because numerous other factors that impact water demand over the long term have to be accounted for. Studies on long-term impacts have been much less reliable and have often contradicted each other. The chapter addresses various aspects that are known about long-run impacts of conservation pricing, including the difference between behavioral versus structural responses to price changes and how such a difference determines the differences between short- and long-run demand impacts and between the responses of the various customer classes.

Estimating the Value of Water-use Efficiency in the Intermountain West

Estimating the Value of Water-use Efficiency in the Intermountain West PDF Author: David G. Groves
Publisher: Rand Corporation
ISBN: 0833043978
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 89

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Book Description
"Evaluating the cost-effectiveness of water-efficiency programs can be difficult, because not all the benefits are easily quantified. This report presents an economic framework based on two tools from the California Urban Water Conservation Council to estimate the avoided costs and environmental benefits of an agency's efficiency programs. The report evaluates the benefits of Denver Water efficiency programs and uses an exploratory modeling approach to accommodate the significant uncertainty in such estimations. The results of this study suggest that the inclusion of long-run avoided costs and environmental benefits is critical to fully recognizing the value of water-use efficiency programs. The authors find that evaluating only the short-run avoided costs leads to the conclusion that many water-efficiency projects already a part of Denver Water's 10-year conservation plan are not cost-effective. When long-run avoided costs and environmental and recreational benefits were factored in, all but two Denver Water programs were estimated to be cost-effective. The timing of projected water savings from efficiency programs is also critical. Water savings from programs that concentrate savings during summer months, when water is scarcer, should be valued higher than saving from programs that lead to more uniform water savings throughout the year, because these water savings reduce peak water needs." -- publisher's website.

Draft Guidelines and Criteria for Water Conservation Plans

Draft Guidelines and Criteria for Water Conservation Plans PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Water conservation
Languages : en
Pages : 32

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Book Description