Builders help spread word about water conservation

     More than a dozen major Southern Nevada home builders have joined the 1998 Water Conservation Campaign by including water conservation information in their new home buyer walk-through kits.
      According to David Riggleman, conservation manager for the Southern Nevada Water Authority, many new home buyers are currently receiving walk-through kits that include indoor and outdoor conservation tips as well as information encouraging water-efficient landscaping.
      "We are thrilled that we have received such a tremendous response from home builders interested in joining the conservation campaign this year," Riggleman said. "Participation by the home builders is very important to the campaign. They allow us to reach many new homeowners before they make their landscaping decisions."
      Participating home builders include: Del Webb Corp., Rhodes Homes, Pacific Homes, Kaufman and Broad, Beazer Homes, The Robert Jones Co., Coleman Homes, Champion Homes, Pacific Homes, U.S. Home Corp., Watt Homes, Taylor Woodrow Homes and Stanpark Homes, among others.
      "Del Webb Corp. is delighted at having the opportunity to contribute to water conservation," said Sean Patrick, director of public and community relations for the builder. "As one of the largest home builders in Southern Nevada, we have the ability to spread the word about water conservation to a lot of people."
      Following a successful 1997 water conservation campaign, Southern Nevada Coalition 2000 (SNC2000) and the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) have joined efforts once again in an attempt to better last year's goal by nearly two percentage points. In order to do so, the Water Authority has set its sights on a mark of 14.8 percent water conservation through voluntary water saving efforts in 1998.
      Though the SNWA has succeeded in meeting annual water conservation goals since its inaugural campaign in 1994, cooperation from the community will need to increase at the same rate as conservation goals for future efforts to succeed, according to Bill Martin, chairman of SNC2000.
      Martin, who is also president and chief executive officer of Pioneer Citizens Bank, leads the group of business, political and community leaders who formed in 1995 to advocate water conservation.
      "Since 65 percent of our valley's water can be attributed to residential usage, our hope is to blanket the valley with simple conservation steps that residents can follow to save water and money," Martin said.
      According to Martin, part of these efforts include convincing residential users that, since they are the valley's largest group of water consumers, they can make the biggest difference.
      "Our 1998 goal of 14.8 percent conservation means that the average residential household savings should equate to approximately 190 gallons per day, or 5,700 gallons per month," said Mary Kincaid, chair of the SNWA board of directors.
      Though it may sound far-reaching, that is not an unrealistic goal, according to Riggleman.
      "The simplest and most effective method for any family to begin saving that much water is through efficient lawn watering," said Riggleman.
      According to Riggleman, simple steps the SNWA recommends include: setting sprinkler timers in accordance with Lawn Watering Guides, using a shut-off nozzle on the hose while washing the car, using a broom rather than a hose to clean the driveway, repairing one leaking faucet or toilet, or using a pool cover.
      He added that saving approximately 190 gallons of water a day could amount to more than $11 of savings on the average household's monthly water bill.
      The SNWA has mapped out an ambitious schedule of annual water conservation goals to include a long-term goal of 25 percent conservation by the year 2010. The annual conservation number is computed by using a sophisticated formula that takes into account area employment, housing and population growth, water consumption history, and other factors that may affect future water use in Southern Nevada.
      The SNWA is a regional water management entity whose member agencies include the cities of Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas, Boulder City and the Big Bend Water District, Clark County Sanitation District, and Las Vegas Valley Water District.
      For more information about water conservation, call 258-SAVE.