Las Vegas Authorities Want to Know How Much Water Companies Use Before Letting Them Move In

A man takes a picture of the fountains in front of the Bellagio hotel and casino in Las Vegas. Photo: John Locher (AP)

Authorities want to ensure a balance between water conservation and the metropolitan area’s economic growth.

If a business wants to move or expand to Las Vegas, it’s going to have to shell out information on its proposed water usage.

Greater Las Vegas officials want to help the regional economy grow, but they also want to protect water sources in the region. This includes a tool that outlines the water companies that want to move to the area will use with their operations, Insider reported.

Officials will rank incoming businesses by analyzing how it will benefit the region, versus the amount of water that it may use up, Insider reported. The Southern Nevada Water Authority first needs to examine how much consumptive water a new or expanding business would use. By “consumptive water,” it means the amount of water that the state won’t reclaim from the company’s operations. This includes water used in products that are sold.

That factor then determines if a business is recommended, not recommended, or falls between the two. Local and state officials then look at whether the business provides other social benefits, such as tax revenue and job creation opportunities for the area.

“The tool gives us the opportunity to talk with companies from a water perspective extremely early in the process,” Dave Johnson, the deputy general manager of the Southern Nevada Water Authority, told Insider about the business evaluations. “If their score isn’t the greatest, we can […]

Full article: gizmodo.com