Underground
well
Photo courtesy of
UNLV Special Collections
Groundwater Groundwater is located below the surface of
the earth and occurs naturally as a result of snowmelt and rainfall in the
nearby mountains. About 12 percent of Southern Nevada's water supply comes
from groundwater sources.
Principal
aquifer
Groundwater comes from three major aquifer (underground rock or sediment
that is permeable and can conduct water) zones generally located from
300 to 1,500 feet below land surface. This drinking-water supply is protected
from surface contamination by a layer of clay and fine-grained sediments
throughout most of the Las Vegas Valley.
Shallow aquifer
Occasionally, news reports mention that contaminants such as pesticides
and fertilizers have been found in groundwater. These reports typically
refer to water in the shallow groundwater system, which is water that
occurs within 50 feet of the land surface. It is separated from the primary
producing aquifers by thick layers of clay and fine-grained sediments.
This water is not used for drinking water.
Who uses groundwater?
In Southern Nevada, the primary users of groundwater are the Las Vegas
Valley Water District and the City of North Las Vegas. There also are
thousands of single-family domestic wells and private wells permitted
by the Nevada State Engineer. In 1997, the Nevada State Legislature directed
the Water Authority to establish the Las Vegas Valley Groundwater Management
Program to ensure this renewable resource continues to be a safe and reliable
water supply.
You can learn more about groundwater and artificial recharge
by visiting lasvegasgmp.org.
