More Drastic Water Cuts Could Be Enacted This Year

In an effort to prevent Hoover Dam and Glen Canyon Dam from approaching "dead pool" conditions, the federal government said today, Tuesday, April 11th, they would enact one of two proposals this summer which would drastically cut the amount of water available to us here in Southern Nevada.

According to an article written by Corey Levitan on Casino.org, "dead pool" is the state in which gravity no longer forces water through a dam. If no water flows through a dam, it does not produce any electricity. Per Levitan's article, Lake Mead, which serves Hoover Dam, currently sits about 150 feet above dead pool. Lake Powell, which serves the Glen Canyon Dam, sits 154 feet above dead pool.

The United States Department of the Interior's Bureau of Reclamation released a new draft of the Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement today, which you can review by CLICKING HERE. Government officials will make a final decision on choosing one of two action proposals this summer. You have 45-days from today to address comments about these proposals by emailing CRinterimops@usbr.gov. You can also choose to phone in your comments to this number: (602)-609-6739.

No matter which plan of action is undertaken by federal officials on this matter, it will affect the amount of water we are allotted here in Southern Nevada, per the Casino.org article. The last time the Lake Mead Reservoir was full was in 1999.It has been determined that it is now only 28% full.

According to Levitan's report, the Colorado River, which pours water into both Lake Mead and Lake Powell, "provides water and electricity to more than 40 million Americans in seven states: California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico. It also supplies water to two states in Mexico, and to 30 tribal nations."

Unless you have been living under a rock, you must be aware of the drought conditions throughout the Southwestern United States. With that in mind, we are always looking for ways to conserve water. Did you know there are some very easy ways to save water, and save money on your water bill each month?

The Southern Nevada Water Authority does an excellent job of letting us know how often to water lawns, plants and trees. But, if you do not own a home surrounded by grass, plants and trees, you are most likely still concerned about the drought and your monthly charges for water use.

I did not know there was an agency in our state called the Nevada Special Utility District. But, after Googling ways to conserve water, their website popped up, so I clicked on the link. It took me to a page filled with great advice on how to conserve water in your kitchen, laundry room, bathroom, and with your plumbing and appliances. They have a rather large section regarding outdoor water use as well. You can see all of this helpful information by CLICKING HERE.

For the purposes of this article, we are just going to concern ourselves with finding easy and inexpensive ways to save water every day and every month in our bathrooms. These rooms are all about water. That's where you find your shower, bathtub and toilet. All of these fixtures use a great deal of water throughout the year, and making sure every one of them is functioning at maximum efficiency will not only conserve water, it will save you big bucks on your next water bill.

Scroll down to see these six easy ways to conserve water in your home's bathrooms.

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Larry Martino is the long-time Afternoon Drive personality on 96.3 KKLZ. The views and opinions expressed in this blog are those of Larry Martino and not necessarily those of Beasley Media Group, LLC.

In fact, you should check under all of your sinks for leaks as well. Leaks can waste a great deal of water. As far as your toilet goes, look inside the bowl too. If you see a trickle of water running down the back of the bowl, you may need to replace the flapper because water is leaking from the tank and into the bowl. It won't ruin your flooring, but it does mean the tank has to keep filling itself for no reason even when it isn't being used.

Your bodily waste and toilet paper are the only items you should be flushing down the toilet. I think this piece of advice is geared more to the fact that if you throw a Kleenex or cigarette butt into the toilet and then flush, it is a waste of water because both of those items could have been disposed of properly in a waste basket without having to flush your toilet. Flush a piece or two of trash down your toilet a couple of times in a day or week, and watch your water bill increase when it didn't have to.

This suggestion helps save water by reducing the amount of water necessary to fill up the toilet tank, a pint at a time. The water saved will add up in the long run. Don't worry, you'll still have enough water in your tank for a sanitary flush.

If this one action becomes a habit for you and your family, you can save up to 150 gallons of water each month according to the Nevada Special Utility District. If you turn off the water while brushing your teeth, you can save up to another 25 gallons of water per month. Save even more by turning off the faucet while washing your hands. Just run the water to soap up your hands, and then to rinse them off after scrubbing.

These low-flow shower heads are designed to increase the water pressure, but they use far less water. It is a rather inexpensive way to save lots of money on your water bill and conserve a great deal of water each month.

Reducing your shower time by just one or two minutes each time and you can save up to 150 gallons of water per month according to the Nevada Special Utility District. If you do not have a shower in your home, or if you prefer baths, then lower the water level my one or two inches each time in order to conserve water.

Larry Martino is the long-time afternoon drive personality on 96.3 KKLZ. The views and opinions expressed in this blog are those of Larry Martino and not necessarily those of Beasley Media Group, LLC.

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