Runoff in the Colorado River is expected to be 55 percent of normal this year which means Lake Mead water levels will drop. Lake levels and inflows to the lake can impact our drinking water supply. Limnologists Todd Tietjen and Deena Hannoun share how their research helps protect our drinking water, and how their studies help other Colorado River Basin water agencies on this episode of the Water Smarts Podcast.

Hosts: Bronson Mack and Crystal Zuelke

https://www.snwa.com/

https://www.snwa.com/

SNWA researchers have been at the forefront of emerging water issues for the past 25 years, and their discoveries have helped protect Southern Nevada’s drinking water supply. SNWA scientists have helped stop quagga mussel infestations from blocking water intake pipes and helped implement ozonation to the water treatment process. Eric Wert, Water Quality Research & Development Manager, talks about the emerging issues the lab currently is tracking and what might be the next generation of water treatment on this episode of the Water Smarts Podcast.

Hosts: Bronson Mack and Crystal Zuelke

https://www.snwa.com/

https://www.snwa.com/

The SNWA Youth Conservation Council (YCC) is hosting the Earth Day Celebration at the Springs Preserve on April 19. YCC members share details about the event’s super cool activities and the new children’s book they’ve created. They also discuss why they’re passionate about water conservation on this episode of the Water Smarts Podcast.

Hosts: Bronson Mack and Crystal Zuelke

https://www.snwa.com/

It takes a lot of engineering and expertise to deliver water throughout the Las Vegas Valley. Buck Osborne, Operations Director for the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA), talks about how our water system is designed and maintained to ensure access to our water supply, even during emergencies and natural disasters. Buck shares how SNWA’s investment in our water infrastructure ensures a secure, reliable water supply.

Hosts: Bronson Mack and Crystal Zuelke

https://www.snwa.com/

https://www.snwa.com/

When Las Vegas Valley artesian springs ran dry decades ago, several species disappeared from the landscape. Rewilding projects at the Springs Preserve have helped rebuild the native habitat and protect endangered species like the Pahrump Poolfish, Relict Leopard Frog and Desert Tortoise. Dr. Ray Saumure, SNWA Senior Environmental Biologist, talks about the challenges of repopulating endangered species and how the discovery that the tiny frogs are cannibalistic may help ensure a sustainable population.

Hosts: Bronson Mack and Crystal Zuelke

https://www.snwa.com/

AB356—the Nevada law that prohibits use of Colorado River water to irrigate nonfunctional turf—takes effect Jan. 1, 2027. Mike Bernardo, SNWA Enterprise Conservation Manager, talks about the law and how SNWA can help property owners prepare. Mike also addresses community concerns about replacing grass with drip-irrigated plants and trees, and how new alternative grasses can be a water-smart option for thirsty lawns on the Water Smarts Podcast, “THIRST QUENCHERS: Nevada’s nonfunctional grass law and alternative grasses help protect community’s water supply.”

Hosts: Bronson Mack and Crystal Zuelke

https://www.snwa.com/

https://www.snwa.com/

Why doesn’t Las Vegas need water towers like in the Midwest? How is SNWA protecting the community’s water supply from the impacts of drought? How can homeowners get help paying to find and fix water leaks? Doa Ross, SNWA Deputy General Manager of Engineering, answers these questions and more on the Water Smarts Podcast, “ALWAYS ON TAP: Pipes & pumps keep water flowing in Las Vegas.”

Hosts: Bronson Mack and Crystal Zuelke

https://www.snwa.com/

Las Vegas owes its very existence to groundwater. Native peoples relied on natural springs that bubbled to the surface; early settlers farmed using water from the springs and groundwater aquifer; and Las Vegas became a townsite because the railroad needed a stop where it could refill its steam locomotive water tanks. The Las Vegas Springs stopped flowing in 1962, but Southern Nevada still relies on the groundwater aquifer for 10 percent of its water supply. Learn more about groundwater and how the Southern Nevada Water Authority helps protect the aquifer on the Water Smarts Podcast, “WHAT LIES BENEATH: Southern Nevada groundwater is a hidden resource for the community.”

Hosts: Bronson Mack and Crystal Zuelke

https://www.snwa.com/

https://www.snwa.com/