MrV
MrV
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May 24th, 2016 at 7:44:26 AM permalink
Las Vegas has had a drought of almost a decade; Lake Mead is at a record low level.

The feds say if it is lower yet by the end of this year, a mandatory reduction in water supply to Nevada will be required.

see: Lake Mead article

Building a gleaming, water devouring city in the middle of the Mojave desert always seemed risky to me: what if they run low on water?

Then what?

There's a chance we'll find out.

If the feds limit supply, I wonder whether the pain will be born across the board, or will casinos get preferential treatment?

I can foresee an argument that their water should not be cut, given that they are the linchpin of the local economy.

I wonder who makes such a call?
"What, me worry?"
rsactuary
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May 24th, 2016 at 8:22:09 AM permalink
Yes, this is very concerning. If the cost of water rises for casinos, they have to pass that cost on to the consumer.... If you thought VP pay tables were bad now....
DRich
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May 24th, 2016 at 11:55:28 AM permalink
I really think this is a non issue. Like everything, this is supply and demand. As supply decreases the prices will increase and there will be less demand. If the prices get too high, people will leave and the demand will decrease.

Having lived in Las Vegas for the last 25 years we have heard of this pending doom for so long it has become the boy that cried wolf.
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GWAE
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May 24th, 2016 at 12:28:11 PM permalink
they can pipe oil across the country why not water.
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Ibeatyouraces
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May 24th, 2016 at 12:29:41 PM permalink
Quote: GWAE

they can pipe oil across the country why not water.


Because we won't let them have ours. :-)
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TwoFeathersATL
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May 24th, 2016 at 12:40:21 PM permalink
Quote: Ibeatyouraces

Because we won't let them have ours. :-)

You actually will let them have your's, once the price is right ;-)
Youuuuuu MIGHT be a 'rascal' if.......(nevermind ;-)...2F
Ibeatyouraces
Ibeatyouraces
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May 24th, 2016 at 12:45:47 PM permalink
Quote: TwoFeathersATL

You actually will let them have your's, once the price is right ;-)


Ok ok, that can have Flints water. heh..
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MrV
MrV
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May 24th, 2016 at 12:47:51 PM permalink
Quote: GWAE

they can pipe oil across the country why not water.



Indeed.

It has always surprised me that there was never a concerted effort to design and build a huge aqueduct with pumping stations to send water from the Columbia River to the desert SW.

Oh sure, salmon need water, but it would be a simple thing to prohibit shipping water during times of low flow, and allow it when the flow is high enough.

Send the water south when there is excess in the River, which is often.

Hold it in new or existing reservoirs down south.

Really, I see no reason not to do it.

It would create a lot of jobs to build and maintain it, and substantial revenue as well.

Win-win.
"What, me worry?"
GWAE
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May 24th, 2016 at 12:48:16 PM permalink
Quote: Ibeatyouraces

Ok ok, that can have Flints water. heh..



wait is that the city with lead in their water
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SanchoPanza
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May 24th, 2016 at 12:51:38 PM permalink
Considering that just about 90 percent of Las Vegas water is recycled, it is no surprise that just a few weeks ago the Southern Nevada Water Authority announced a favorable outlook for at least a 20-year supply. That may help explain why a major master planned development of thousands of houses is proceeding between the former extent of development and the Paiute reservation.
TwoFeathersATL
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May 24th, 2016 at 12:55:43 PM permalink
Quote: GWAE

wait is that the city with lead in their water

Don't wait too long Great Lakes States. There has been a plan for many years to take Canadian water from west of you to the American SOuthWest. Almost started a couple times, failed. You can look it up. Talking big project, like putting in the Interstate HWY system...
Youuuuuu MIGHT be a 'rascal' if.......(nevermind ;-)...2F
TwoFeathersATL
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May 24th, 2016 at 1:18:17 PM permalink
Quote: GWAE

wait is that the city with lead in their water

That seems to be what I read. Further reading sounded like Flint bought the water from Detroit? I wondered if Detroit was testing their water and selling any batches that failed to Flint?

Damn Yankees , and no one understands why they still aren't 100% trusted 'round here ;-)
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AxelWolf
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May 24th, 2016 at 4:39:27 PM permalink
Just redirect/transport all the melting polar ice caps to Lake Mead and all the other places we are having problems with drought, problem solved.
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Wizard
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May 24th, 2016 at 4:53:58 PM permalink
Why does Las Vegas get all the blame for the low water levels of Lake Mead? The vast majority of the water is used for desert farming around the Salton Sea at very subsidized prices. I think everybody has to feel the pain in reducing water consumption, including the farmers. This opinion also applies to the California drought.
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Ibeatyouraces
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May 24th, 2016 at 4:56:30 PM permalink
Blame these two guys.

https://youtu.be/FR7ljwJadm8
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bobbartop
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May 24th, 2016 at 5:08:33 PM permalink
Quote: Wizard

Why does Las Vegas get all the blame for the low water levels of Lake Mead? The vast majority of the water is used for desert farming around the Salton Sea at very subsidized prices. I think everybody has to feel the pain in reducing water consumption, including the farmers. This opinion also applies to the California drought.



The country is very lucky we in the California Central Valley have a snowpack this year in the Sierras. After four years of virtually no winter, one more dry winter was going to break the camel's back. We have greatly lowered the water table underground that took over 50 years to establish itself. I talk with many farmers and one more dry winter and the rest of you people were not going to get any grapes, peaches, etc., this season. For you meat eaters, you should also know that it takes water to grow alfalfa for the cattle. I have watched cattle farms disappear over the last three years. We feed the whole country from our valley. No water for us, no food for you.
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rxwine
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May 24th, 2016 at 5:58:47 PM permalink
Liquid like Coca-Cola is shipped in 2 liter bottles for 1.50 or less. Don't think they add water when it gets to Vegas.

I can't imagine a price point higher than that.
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DJTeddyBear
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May 24th, 2016 at 6:32:16 PM permalink
Quote: MrV

It has always surprised me that there was never a concerted effort to design and build a huge aqueduct with pumping stations to send water from the Columbia River to the desert SW.

Because droughts and surplus move around and are unpredictable.

You CAN have an oil pipeline because the source and destination are relatively unchanging.
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AZDuffman
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May 24th, 2016 at 6:51:26 PM permalink
The thing is most of the plains and southwest is naturally uninhabitable by large populations. It was not made to support near the population it is supporting. Aquifers are running lower and lower. Things will crack. I've been hearing it since the 80s, but fact is sooner or later it will happen. Lake Mead is special for all the water needed for power generation. Cut water and power to CA and you have major problems.

I would like to see solar desalination to help the problem. I have read about doing it on a small scale, may try for the science of it. All that desert, all that heat, Would be wonderful.
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RogerKint
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May 24th, 2016 at 8:11:03 PM permalink
Quote: AZDuffman



I would like to see solar desalination to help the problem. I have read about doing it on a small scale, may try for the science of it. All that desert, all that heat, Would be wonderful.



...and that also solves the rising sea level problem caused by global warming ;)
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MrV
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May 25th, 2016 at 7:05:04 AM permalink
Curious, I googled the issue.

Here's a thought piece

Hey, Oregon: have the southwesterners pay all costs of construction and operation; charge a fee for water shipped: result: a nearly effortles two or so billion dollars revenue a year.
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TwoFeathersATL
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May 25th, 2016 at 7:25:43 AM permalink
Take the water from western Canada and the US Pacific NW, pipe it to the desert SW. Fill pools and big fountains. Grow crops, feed the hungry. Stop the rise in ocean levels.
Save the planet.
Done.

Next?

<edit> it's simple actually, just look at a map.
Lots of water up there, very little water down here.
Water flows downhill right, dig some ditches ;-)
Youuuuuu MIGHT be a 'rascal' if.......(nevermind ;-)...2F
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