U.S. Water News Online
LAS VEGAS -- A severe drought has the Clark County School District considering a plan to remove more than 2 million square feet of existing turf, a move that would save an estimated 60 million gallons of water a year.
With 289 schools and 189 acres of athletic fields, play areas and landscaping, the sixth-largest school district in the nation is the largest single water user in southern Nevada.
"We're just trying to stay ahead of the problem," said Paul Gerner, associate superintendent of facilities.
In 2002, the district consumed more than 2.8 billion gallons of water at a cost of $5.6 million.
Last year, the district removed almost 250,000 square feet of turf and ornamental landscaping, or paved over grassy areas for parking.
New schools are being designed with water efficient landscaping in mind, while older campuses are replacing grass with desert landscaping or shrubbery, officials said. Watering has been cut back to 80 percent.
One Las Vegas high school is making plans to become the first in the district to install a football field of artificial turf.
In August, the district will add another 13 schools and about 308 acres.
The measures come with the water level at Lake Mead expected to drop below 1,125 above sea level by year's end, its lowest point in 39 years.
That will prompt the Southern Nevada Water Authority to declare a drought emergency because no surplus water is available from the Colorado River, which supplies the Las Vegas area with about 90 percent of its water.
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