Timeline of Las Vegas Valley Water District History

Photo of historic derrick on Springs Preserve site
courtesy of UNLV Lied Library Special Collections.

Late 1940s-50s

1947 – The Nevada Legislature creates the Las Vegas Valley Water District (LVVWD) to serve the city of Las Vegas and unincorporated areas of Clark County.
1952 – The Union Pacific Railroad sells the Las Vegas Land and Water Company (LVL&W), the Water District's predecessor, to the Water District for $2.5 million.
1954 – LVVWD operations begin on July 1. The Water District drills its first well.
1955 – Las Vegas receives its first delivery of Lake Mead water from the Basic Management Inc. (BMI) system in Henderson. LVVWD constructs its first reservoir (Charleston Heights).

1960 – Design begins on a two-stage Southern Nevada Water System (SNWS) to treat and deliver Lake Mead water to Las Vegas.
1962 – The Las Vegas Springs stop flowing to the surface.
1968 – Construction begins on the first stage of the SNWS.

1971 – The SNWS begins delivering water to Las Vegas.
1978 – The area surrounding the Las Vegas Springs is designated as an archaeological site and is added to the National Register of Historic Places.

1980 – The Desert Demonstration Gardens opens.
1981 – Maximum daily water demand exceeds 200 million gallons for the first time.
1982 – Construction of the second stage of the SNWS is completed, increasing treatment and transmission capacity to 400 million gallons of water per day.
1989 – The district switches from manual to digital meter readings.

1990 – Maximum daily water demand exceeds 300 million gallons for the first time.
1991 – The Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) is formed to address Southern Nevada's water needs on a regional basis.
1993 – The LVVWD is selected as the operating agent for the SNWA.
1995 – The LVVWD and other SNWA member agencies develop a conservation plan for the region.
1996 – Reservoir storage capacity reaches 500 million gallons.
1998 – The LVVWD forms a partnership with the Las Vegas Springs Preserve Foundation to protect the site of the Las Vegas Springs.
1999 – Maximum daily demand exceeds 400 million gallons for the first time.

2002 – The district's service population surpasses one million people.
2003 – The district begins installing the Firefly electronic meter-reading system.
2007 – Construction begins on the future site of the Nevada State History Museum at the Springs Preserve.
2007 – The district builds a hydrogen refueling station.
2007 – The Springs Preserve opens in June. The Desert Demonstration Gardens moves to the Springs Preserve site.
2008 – The Alternative Vehicle Institute names the district a national 2008 Green Ribbon Award Winner for demonstrating outstanding leadership in the use of alternative fuels.
2008 – Government Fleet Magazine declares LVVWD the seventh best "green" fleet in North America.
2008 – The Hydrogen Road Tour, a caravan of hydrogen-powered vehicles, refuels at the district during a 33-city cross-country tour. The district's hydrogen fueling facility is one of only two in the country that operates on solar energy.