Las Vegas has just wrapped up one of the driest 48-hour spans of September in recent memory, but all eyes are on both the sky and the water meters as Southern Nevada heads into a critical fall season for local water supplies. Over the past two days, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, not a single measurable drop of rain has fallen in the Las Vegas Valley, adding to what’s officially being ranked as the fourth-driest monsoon season on record. Matt Woods, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, says there’s still a 40 percent chance of showers today, and at least a 20 percent chance of rain every day this week, but monsoon storms this time of year remain notoriously unpredictable, often developing in scattered pockets or simply skirting the city altogether.
Total precipitation so far this year at Harry Reid International Airport stands at 2.05 inches, falling short of the annual average of 2.27 inches by this point and well below the 4.18 inches that marks a typical rainfall year in Las Vegas. Going all the way back to July 3, the start of the traditional summer rainy season, the airport has only picked up 0.02 inches—meaning Vegas lawns and golf courses have been relying almost exclusively on delivered water and underlying aquifers to stay green.
This brings us to the broader water picture, and it’s a serious one. The Las Vegas Valley Water District reports that some groundwater sources around the city are now at historically low levels. Since 2020, water officials have actually put a hold on new water hookups in neighborhoods near Red Rock Canyon because the two main local wells are running so low. Even in areas still served by groundwater, both residents and businesses are facing stricter rules: as of September 1, a new fall watering schedule is in effect, allowing landscape irrigation only three assigned days per week until Halloween. If you’re caught watering outside your assigned days, get ready for a fine, and absolutely no outdoor watering on Sundays.
Why all the caution? As Nevada’s share of the Colorado River gets squeezed tighter by drought and population growth, every drop counts. Southern Nevada Water Authority experts like Colby Pellegrino warn that ongoing negotiations with neighboring states over the river’s allocation could determine whether Las Vegas has to make even deeper water cuts by 2027. Congressman Susie Lee told the crowd at the recent Southern Nevada Water Summit that Lake Mead projections are worrying, with water levels expected to fall below historic lows in the next two years if regional water use isn’t significantly reduced.
Water quality, however, remains stable. The Valley’s drinking water continues to meet federal and state safety standards, according to both local officials and the SNWA. That said, the agency stresses the importance of conservation—not just because supplies are tight, but to keep water bills from rising as rates are reviewed and potentially adjusted to encourage even more savings.
Current temperatures for September are still hovering around 35 degrees Celsius, or 95 degrees Fahrenheit, with overnight lows around 19 degrees Celsius. Although this means high heat and humidity persist, the shift to shorter watering schedules and the collective effort of residents to stay within their new restrictions mark an important community push to secure Las Vegas’s water future.
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