Notice of proposed changes to Big Bend Water District water rates
OVERVIEW
The Big Bend Water District (BBWD) is responsible for delivering drinking water to Laughlin’s residents and businesses. Like many water systems across the nation, Laughlin’s water system requires ongoing maintenance and replacement to continue to provide quality drinking water and reliable water service to the area. Approximately $9.7 million in capital improvements is needed to maintain reliability, which includes projects like rehabilitating existing water reservoirs and pumping stations, replacing the ozone generators, improving existing facilities and several other projects.
An increase to existing water rates is needed to maintain a sustainable funding approach for Laughlin’s water system. BBWD staff proposed two rate options to fund the improvements. On September 9th, the Laughlin Town Advisory Board (LTAB) made a recommendation to fund essential system improvements by increasing existing water rates by 7.1 percent annually over a five-year period. BBWD staff prepared water bills of sample customers to evaluate how different Laughlin businesses would be affected by the proposed rate changes. View the sample customers.
PROPOSED RATES AND FEES
The proposed increases to tiered water rates are shown in the tables below:
| CURRENT | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | 2029 | 2030 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | $4.70 | $5.15 | $5.64 | $6.18 | $6.77 | $7.42 |
| Tier 2 | $5.91 | $6.48 | $7.10 | $7.78 | $8.53 | $9.35 |
| METER SIZE | CURRENT | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | 2029 | 2030 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5/8" & 3/4" | $0.4068 | $0.4459 | $0.4887 | $0.5356 | $0.5870 | $0.6434 |
| 1" | $0.4271 | $0.4681 | $0.5130 | $0.5622 | $0.6162 | $0.6754 |
| 1½" | $0.5500 | $0.6028 | $0.6607 | $0.7241 | $0.7936 | $0.8698 |
| 2" | $0.8047 | $0.8820 | $0.9667 | $1.0595 | $1.1612 | $1.2727 |
| 3" | $0.9399 | $1.0301 | $1.1290 | $1.2374 | $1.3562 | $1.4864 |
| 4" | $1.3119 | $1.4378 | $1.5758 | $1.7271 | $1.8929 | $2.0746 |
| 6" | $1.9487 | $2.1358 | $2.3408 | $2.5655 | $2.8118 | $3.0817 |
| 8" | $3.0822 | $3.3781 | $3.7024 | $4.0578 | $4.4473 | $4.8742 |
| 10" | $5.1568 | $5.6519 | $6.1945 | $6.7892 | $7.4410 | $8.1553 |
| 12" | $8.5941 | $9.4191 | $10.3233 | $11.3143 | $12.4005 | $13.5909 |
In addition, staff is recommending an increase to the System Development Charge – a fee assessed for new connections. This charge has not been increased for more than 15 years. This recommended one-time increase will catch the fees up with inflation and will be indexed to CPI annually thereafter.
The proposed increases to the system development charge are shown in the tables below:
| METER SIZE | CURRENT | PROPOSED (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| 5/8" | $2,050 | $3,075 |
| 3/4" | $3,075 | $4,613 |
| 1" | $5,125 | $7,688 |
| 1½" | $10,250 | $15,375 |
| 2" | $16,400 | $24,600 |
| 3" | $32,800 | $49,200 |
| 4" | $51,250 | $76,875 |
| 6" | $102,500 | $153,750 |
| 8" | $164,000 | $246,000 |
| 10" | $235,750 | $353,625 |
| 12" | $348,500 | $522,750 |
TENTATIVE RATES ADOPTION SCHEDULE
Should the proposed increase be adopted by the BBWD Board of Trustees, the new water rate would be effective January 1, 2026. In addition to the previously-approved CPI-based increases, the water rate would increase by 7.1 percent every year on January 1 until 2030 when the rate increase is fully implemented. On January 1, 2031, water rates will increase only with inflationary increases.
The BBWD Board of Trustees will consider the Business Impact Statement at its meeting on Tuesday, November 4, 2025. At that time, it is anticipated that the BBWD Board of Trustees will set a public hearing for Tuesday, December 2, 2025, to consider approval of the proposed new rates and charges.
PURPOSE
This Notice is to publicly notify potentially-affected local chambers of commerce, trade associations, or businesses to conform to the requirements of NRS 237.030 – 237.110, “Adoption of Rules Affecting Businesses.” There are two questions for potentially affected businesses to consider:
- Do the proposed charges impose a direct and significant economic burden upon your business? If you believe these changes do, please be specific as to why a particular charge imposes such burden.
- Do the proposed charges restrict the formation, operation or expansion of your business? If you believe these changes do, please be specific as to how and why a particular charge imposes such a burden.
Please review and evaluate how these changes will affect your business or organization considering the two questions listed. If your business or organization is in the town of Laughlin and served by the BBWD, and you believe it will be affected by the proposed water rate, you must provide a response to the BBWD no later than 6:00 p.m. on Friday, October 10, 2025.
To provide a response via U.S. mail:
Big Bend Water District
Attention: Jason Bailey
1001 S. Valley View Boulevard, M/S #760
Las Vegas, NV 89153
To provide a response via email:
LVVWD-BIS@lvvwd.com
Please contact Jason Bailey at 702-822-3277 with any questions.