NON-POTABLE WATER RATES FOR GOLF COURSES
BACKGROUND
The Las Vegas Valley Water District (LVVWD), City of Las Vegas, and Clark County Water Reclamation District began the Recycled Water Distribution System in the early 2000s. The system allowed for wastewater to be treated at nearby water reclamation facilities and delivered to golf courses for irrigation purposes, as opposed to pumping drinking water from Lake Mead.
This water was assessed at the rate of $2.33 per thousand gallons. Additionally, because the water was not delivered using Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) infrastructure, SNWA charges and fees were not assessed. Although various golf courses throughout the LVVWD service area became part of the system and received reclaimed water for irrigation at this reduced rate, other golf courses were provided potable water at a different rate.
In 2019, the use of reclaimed water for golf course irrigation was decommissioned amid rising water reclamation costs and concerns that the reclaimed water system was negatively impacting local groundwater quality. As reclaimed water is no longer being delivered, the LVVWD is proposing to transition all golf courses to the potable golf course water rates with applicable SNWA charges to ensure equity in rates across the golf course industry sector.
LVVWD staff held multiple meetings with golf course representatives during the summer of 2024 and proposed two rate scenarios to transition the non-potable customers to the potable golf course water rate. These options are summarized below:
OPTION 1: TWO-PHASE IMPLEMENTATION (2026 & 2028)
2026 | 2027 | 2028 | |
Volumetric Water Rate | No Change: $2.33 per 1,000 gallons |
No Change: $2.33 per 1,000 gallons |
Begin paying golf course water rates |
SNWA Charges | Begin paying: Infrastructure Charge Reliability Surcharge Commodity Charge |
No change | No change |
LVVWD Charges |
Begin paying: Backflow Charge |
No change |
No change |
OPTION 2: FIVE-PHASE IMPLEMENTATION (2026-2030)
2026 | 2027 | 2028 | 2029 | 2030 | |
Volumetric Water Rate | No Change: $2.33 per 1,000 gallons |
Increase to: $2.83 per 1,000 gallons |
Increase to: $3.43 per 1,000 gallons |
Increase to: $4.13 per 1,000 gallons |
Begin paying golf course water rates |
SNWA Charges | Begin paying: Infrastructure Charge Reliability Surcharge Commodity Charge |
No change | No change | No change | No change |
LVVWD Charges |
No change |
Begin paying: Backflow Charge |
No change |
No change |
No change |
TENTATIVE ADOPTION DATES
A hearing for the Business Impact Statement will take place at the November LVVWD Board meeting. The public hearing for the Service Rules change will be held at the December LVVWD Board meeting. Board meeting dates can be found at https://www.lvvwd.com/about/board/lvvwd-agendas/index.cfml.
PURPOSE
This notice is being provided to publicly notify potentially affected businesses of the proposed rate changes in order to conform with of NRS 237.030 – 237.150, "Adoption of Rules Affecting Businesses." With this in mind, there are two questions for potentially affected businesses to consider:
- Will the proposed rate changes impose a direct and significant economic burden upon your business? If you believe these changes will, please be specific as to why a particular charge imposes such a burden.
- Will the proposed rate changes directly restrict the formation, operation or expansion of your business? If you believe these changes will, 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 in light of the two questions listed. If you believe your business will be affected by the proposed changes, you are invited to respond to this notice with data and arguments. You must provide your response to the Las Vegas Valley Water District no later than 6:00 p.m., Monday, October 14. See contact information below.
Las Vegas Valley Water District
1001 S. Valley View Boulevard, M/S #760;
Las Vegas, NV 89153
Attention: Jordan Bunker
Call (702) 258-7296
Or, by email to LVVWD