Federal money coming to Nevada for water infrastructure

Nevada will receive millions for expanding water infrastructure operations in the fight against the ongoing drought from a package the White House announced on Tuesday. 

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The legislation will also bring an additional $20 million in annual funding to operate the Las Vegas Wash, the valley’s primary drainage channel that carries around 200 million gallons of water daily to Lake Mead. The legislation increases the authorization ceiling for $40 million to $60 million.

Southern Nevada is among a small number of places to recycle indoor water on “a community-wide scale,” according to the Southern Nevada Water Authority. Among all the water from the authority used indoors, 99% is recycled, and the Wash is an integral component of that.

“No one knows better than a Nevadan just how precious our water is,” said Rep. Susie Lee, D-Nev., in a statement. “That’s why I made securing water infrastructure investments for Laughlin and the Las Vegas Wash my top priorities for the bipartisan Water Resources Development Act of 2024.” Lee is vice chair of the Colorado River Caucus.