Introduction
Water conservation and supply represent problematic issues in Las Vegas due to the region’s climate peculiarities. Access to clean water is crucial for human health and environmental protection and can contribute to poverty mitigation. Given this, there is an urgent need to take action in conserving and supplying water in the mentioned area.
Identification of the Problem
Las Vegas has a warm and dry climate, which increases the risk of water-related problems. The massive drought began in the 2000s, limiting water consumption (LVVWD, n.d.). It occurred due to low flows in the Colorado River and dramatically increased water consumption.
The situation becomes more aggravating due to climate change and temperature growth. This issue pushed a range of efforts to conserve and supply water. The Water District of the Southern Nevada Water Authority adopted restrictions on seasonal watering, water waste penalties, and other measures (LVVWD, n.d.). The challenge should draw the community’s attention because there is a risk of water shortage, which may impact health. The authorities need to improve water management in the area.
Solutions
Solutions should fit the unique needs and resources of the region. First, there is a need to apply system dynamics modeling to identify scenarios for future water supply in the Las Vegas Valley (Joshi et al., 2020). As for the benefits, it can help assess available resources and prevent risks. However, climate changes may be unpredictable and aggravate drought, so there can be no scenario with relevant conserving and supply options.
The second method is implementing a community program for converting lawns into desert-friendly landscapes (LVVWD, n.d.). On the one hand, it will dramatically decrease water consumption. On the other hand, it may be disadvantageous financially because the budget can be limited to introduce such an initiative. Nevertheless, it seems the best option because it relates to the most considerable portion of consumers in the community.
Third is using foam-based photovoltaics as a water conservation option. Its advantage is saving water and generating more electricity with less resource involvement (Hayibo et al., 2020). However, this innovation is at the testing stage, so it may require some time to implement.
Conclusion
In conclusion, water is a priceless resource that needs to be saved in Las Vegas. The final recommendation is to thoroughly evaluate existing resources to determine the reasonability of the proposed solutions. A call to action should encourage community members to use water wisely to prevent water waste.
References
Hayibo, K.S., Mayville, P., Kailey, R.K., & Pearce, J.M. (2020). Water conservation potential of self-funded foam-based flexible surface-mounted floatovoltaics. Energies, 13(23), pp. 1-24. Web.
Joshi, N., Tamaddun, K., Parajuli, R., Kalra, A., Maheshwari, P., Mastino, L., & Velotta, M. (2020). Future changes in water supply and demand for Las Vegas Valley: A system dynamic approach based on CMIP3 and CMIP5 climate projections. Hydrology, 7(1), pp. 1-28. Web.
Las Vegas Valley Water District. (n.d.). Drought and conservation measures. Las Vegas Valley Water District. Web.