What Southern Nevada Water Authority does

Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) is a multi-jurisdictional public water authority formed in 1991 by seven local water and wastewater agencies to manage water treatment, delivery, and conservation across the Las Vegas Valley. SNWA operates as a wholesale provider, treating Colorado River water at two main facilities — the Alfred Merritt Smith Water Treatment Facility (600 MGD capacity, built 1971) and the River Mountains Water Treatment Facility (300 MGD, expandable to 600 MGD, opened 2002) — and delivering it through seven captive member agencies that collectively serve more than 2 million residents and 40+ million annual visitors. Core infrastructure includes Intake No. 3 (operational 2015) and the Low Lake Level Pumping Station (completed 2020 under budget at $522M, operational April 2022), which together secure access to Colorado River water below the 895-foot dead-pool elevation.

The Authority funds operations through pass-through surcharges on member-agency bills — a Commodity Charge tied to consumption, an Infrastructure Charge based on meter size, and a Reliability Surcharge of 0.25% (residential) or 2.5% (other). Treatment relies on ozonation as the primary disinfection method, supported by a 50,000-square-foot Water Quality Laboratory and Applied Research & Development Center that processes 67,000+ samples and 328,000+ analyses annually, monitoring 91 EPA-regulated and 75 unregulated contaminants. Researchers have published 200+ peer-reviewed manuscripts with 25,000+ citations, and SNWA operates the annual WaterSmart Innovations Conference, hosts the Water Smarts Podcast, and runs extensive residential and commercial conservation rebate programs.

Demand-side programming includes the Water Smart Landscapes rebate ($5/sq.ft. plus $100/tree), smart irrigation controller rebates (up to $100), Water Smart Business incentives, evaporative-cooling replacement programs, and septic-system conversion support — a portfolio aligned with Nevada's 2021 law banning nonfunctional grass irrigation at commercial properties by end of 2026. Approximately 99% of indoor water in the service area is recycled through direct reuse or Lake Mead return-flow credits. The Authority is governed by a Board of Directors representing its seven member agencies and led by General Manager John J. Entsminger (since 2014), with major capital expansion underway through the $2–2.7 billion Horizon Lateral Program (Phase I construction beginning early 2027).

Name

Southern Nevada Water Authority

Legal name

Southern Nevada Water Authority

Website

https://snwa.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Southern Nevada Water Authority is a regional public water authority that wholesales treated Colorado River water to seven member agencies serving 2+ million residents across the Las Vegas Valley, operating advanced treatment facilities, low-lake intake infrastructure, and community-wide conservation programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Municipal Water Utility Services

NAICS

Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213), Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (221310)

SIC

Water Supply (4941), Water, Sewer, Pipeline, Comm & Power Line Construction (1623)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Supply & Wastewater Utilities Administration (BPAIACAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Water Reclamation & Reuse Production (Tertiary/Advanced Treatment) (EUANADAD), Water Resources Administration (Watersheds, Rivers, Groundwater) (BPAIAMAE)

Keywords

• Municipal water treatment
• Wholesale water supply
• Water conservation programs
• Water resource management
• Water reclamation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Las Vegas

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Wholesale Water Treatment and Delivery: SNWA treats and delivers wholesale water supply to municipal water providers (member agencies). Costs related to water treatment, water resources, and the Water Authority distribution network are covered by surcharges including the Commodity Charge (for water quality improvements and reliability enhancements) and Infrastructure Charge (varies based on meter size, calculated daily).
2. Reliability Surcharge: A surcharge applied against total water bills: 0.25 percent for residential customers and 2.5 percent for others, based on the premise that customers have varying levels of need for water and should pay accordingly.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Southern Nevada Water Authority is a not-for-profit regional water authority that acquires, treats, and delivers wholesale water supplies from the Colorado River to seven municipal member agencies serving more than 2 million residents and 40 million annual visitors in the Las Vegas Valley. It operates advanced water treatment facilities (ozonation, filtration), Intake 3 and the Low Lake Level Pumping Station that enable access to water below Lake Mead's dead pool elevation, a Water Quality Laboratory producing peer-reviewed applied research, water reclamation and return-flow credit systems recycling approximately 99% of indoor water, and community-wide water conservation rebate and education programs.

Product overview

Southern Nevada Water Authority operates a comprehensive regional water management system serving over 2 million residents in Southern Nevada. The organization's core infrastructure includes two major water treatment facilities (Alfred Merritt Smith Water Treatment Facility with 600 MGD capacity and River Mountains Water Treatment Facility with 300 MGD expandable to 600 MGD), along with Intake 3 and the Low Lake Level Pumping Station that ensure access to water below critical lake elevations. The Authority also manages the Horizon Lateral Program ($2-2.7B infrastructure expansion), operates a 50,000 sq ft Water Quality Laboratory and Applied Research & Development Center, and administers conservation programs including Water Smart Landscapes rebates, business conservation incentives, and residential programs. Environmental initiatives include the Warm Springs Natural Area and Las Vegas Wash restoration. Public engagement is supported through the Water Smarts Podcast, eNewsletters, and text alert services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Alfred Merritt Smith Water Treatment Facility Primary water treatment facility built in 1971 that treats most of the Las Vegas Valley's drinking water, with capacity of 600 million gallons per day. Received Partnership for Safe Water Excellence in Water Treatment award in 2019. Serves as SNWA's foundational treatment asset and operates under Safe Drinking Water Act compliance.
• River Mountains Water Treatment Facility Water treatment facility opened in October 2002, currently treating up to 300 million gallons of water per day with design capability to expand to 600 million gallons per day. Uses ozonation and sodium hypochlorite for disinfection and received Partnership for Safe Water's Excellence in Water Treatment award in 2018.
• Intake 3 Third drinking water intake that draws Colorado River water at elevations below 1,000 feet above sea level, protecting municipal customers from water quality issues associated with declining lake levels. Began conveying water in September 2015.
• Low Lake Level Pumping Station Pumping station completed in 2020 (under budget at $522 million) with capacity to deliver up to 900 million gallons per day to treatment facilities, ensuring Southern Nevada maintains access to water supplies below Lake Mead's dead pool elevation of 895 feet. Became operational in April 2022 when dramatic Lake Mead declines rendered a primary intake station inoperable.
• Horizon Lateral Program Package of transmission and storage infrastructure projects designed to improve redundancy, reliability, and flexibility of water delivery to the City of Henderson and southern Las Vegas Valley. Estimated construction cost ranges from $2 billion to $2.7 billion, with Phase I construction expected to start in early 2027 and complete in 2030.
• Water Smart Landscapes (WSL) Rebate Program Cash incentive program offering $5 per square foot plus $100 bonus per tree installed for replacing thirsty grass with water-efficient desert landscaping. Nevada law prohibits irrigation of nonfunctional grass at commercial properties beginning in 2027.
• Water Reclamation Services Partnership with Clark County Water Reclamation District to treat and return reclaimed water for local use (golf courses, cemetery, Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve), with remainder returned to Lake Mead. Under SNWA's return-flow credit system, every gallon returned enables equivalent withdrawal from the Colorado River. Approximately 99% of indoor water in the SNWA service area is recycled.
• Business Conservation Programs Water-saving business programs including Water Smart Business Program, Water Efficient Technologies rebates, and incentives for replacing evaporative cooling systems with dry-cooled alternatives. Targeted at hotels, resorts, golf courses, commercial properties, multi-family housing, and government facilities.
• Residential Conservation Programs Residential programs including home water audit kits, leak detection vouchers, smart irrigation controller rebates (up to $100), and car wash coupons designed to help residents save water, time, and money.

Quantifiable outcome

• 200 billion gallons of water saved by the community through conservation efforts
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• MGM Resorts InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 March 2026MGM Resorts International partnered with SNWA to implement a water conservation program resulting in estimated 7 million gallons of water saved annually at employee homes. The program included a $500,000 investment to provide enhanced water conservation rebates, leading to water-efficient upgrades by employees. The initiative aims to expand participation and further reduce residential water demand in Southern Nevada.
• U.S. Senators John Curtis and Catherine Cortez MastocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 January 2026Bipartisan legislation introduced to extend the Large-Scale Water Recycling Project Grant Program through 2032, supporting water recycling efforts in the Western United States. The program established by the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act has allocated around $300 million of the $450 million authorized.
• Las Vegas Grand PrixminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 13 November 2025Las Vegas Grand Prix accelerated sustainability efforts for the 2025 race through water reclamation, recycling, and tree planting programs in partnership with SNWA and multiple organizations.
• City of HendersoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe City of Henderson completed a $100 million overhaul of its Water Reclamation Facility, adding a 12-million-gallon biological nutrient removal basin, secondary clarifier, sand filters, and upgraded pumping systems. The facility treats and returns approximately 30% of reclaimed water for local use (golf courses, cemetery, Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve) while remainder is conveyed to Lake Mead via Las Vegas Wash. Under SNWA's return-flow credit system, every gallon returned to Lake Mead enables equivalent volume withdrawal from the Colorado River.
• City of Los Angeles (via Metropolitan Water District)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSNWA is pursuing collaborative projects including a water treatment facility partnership with Los Angeles to increase Nevada's allocation from the Colorado River. The collaboration involves water banking agreements (Southern Nevada Water Bank, California Water Bank, Arizona Water Bank) and Intentionally Created Surplus programs.
• Las Vegas Wash Coordination CommitteecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA panel representing more than two dozen local, state and federal agencies, environmental groups, the business community, University of Nevada, Las Vegas and private citizens developed a long-term management plan aimed at stabilizing the Las Vegas Wash and enhancing surrounding vegetation. The Wash returns approximately 2% of water in Lake Mead and carries more than 200 million gallons of water daily to Lake Mead.
• SunEdisonminorOthersSNWA partnered with SunEdison which constructed a 14-megawatt River Mountains Solar Facility to provide clean and renewable energy to power a portion of the River Mountains Water Treatment Facility.
• Bureau of Land ManagementcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBLM involvement in the Sloan Canyon Conservation and Lateral Pipeline Act, which directs the Department of Interior to grant SNWA rights-of-way for a 40-mile water pipeline beneath the Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area. BLM officials attended multi-agency meetings for the Horizon Lateral Program alignments.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• New York City Department of Environmental Protection: Municipal agency providing water and wastewater service to ~8.4 million NYC residents from the Catskill/Delaware system. Comparable in scale and as a public-sector water authority with major watershed protection, treatment, and conservation programs, though operating in a much wetter climate.
• Seattle Public Utilities: Combined water, wastewater, drainage, and solid-waste utility for the City of Seattle. Comparable to SNWA in running community conservation programs, drinking water treatment at scale, and large infrastructure capital programs — but in a fundamentally different supply environment.

Direct peers

• Denver Water: Municipal water utility serving ~1.5 million people in the Denver metro area from a primarily mountain-snowmelt system. Comparable to SNWA in operating large treatment and distribution infrastructure, running conservation rebate programs, and being a long-tenured water-research and innovation leader.
• Metropolitan Water District of Southern California: The largest wholesale water supplier in the US, serving ~19 million Southern Californians via 26 member agencies. Direct peer to SNWA: both are Colorado River wholesalers operating under the same Compact/DCP framework, both invest in large regional infrastructure, and both execute inter-basin water banking and conservation programs.
• San Diego County Water Authority: Wholesale water agency supplying ~3.3 million people in San Diego County through 24 member agencies. Comparable to SNWA in governance (member-agency structure), heavy reliance on imported supply, leadership in water reuse and conservation, and active Colorado River water-transfer/banking programs.
• California Department of Water Resources: State agency that operates the State Water Project, delivering water to 27 million Californians and 750,000 acres of farmland. Comparable to SNWA in scale, role as a wholesale water conveyer, and dependence on a single, climate-stressed source (the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta).
• Central Arizona Project: Colorado River water delivery system serving central and southern Arizona via a 336-mile canal. Closely comparable to SNWA in operating a single-source Colorado River supply, executing shortage contributions under the Lower Basin DCP, and managing large-scale pumping/canal infrastructure.
• San Antonio Water System: Large municipal water and wastewater utility serving ~2 million people across greater San Antonio. Comparable in scale to SNWA, with a similarly large water-reuse program (the Twin Oaks Aquifer Storage & Recovery system) and an aggressive conservation rebate offering.
• Las Vegas Valley Water District: SNWA's largest member agency, serving ~375,000 customer accounts in the Las Vegas Valley. Sister agency under shared leadership (SNWA GM is also LVVWD GM), with overlapping staff, infrastructure, and conservation programs — the most direct operational peer in the SNWA system.

Others

• Colorado River Water Users Association: Not a utility itself, but the principal non-profit association representing Colorado River water users across the seven basin states. Highly relevant to SNWA given its central role in Colorado River policy, DCP negotiations, and the Minute 319/323 framework SNWA helped negotiate.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SNWA_H2O
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/snwavideo
• Facebookfacebook.com/499452973479261
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/snwa
• Instagraminstagram.com/southernnevadawaterauthority
• Pinterestpinterest.com/waterauthority

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Southern Nevada Water Authority