Prevention, partnerships key to protecting groundwater in southern Nevada

In the arid region of southern Nevada, the Virgin Valley Water District is safeguarding an underground lifeline most residents never see: the groundwater that serves as the sole source of drinking water for the city of Mesquite and the town of Bunkerville.

The water supply comes from Hydrologic Basin 222, part of the Lower Virgin River Basin, where the utility draws water from nine wells ranging in depth from 640 to 2,020 feet.

“We know that once contamination reaches groundwater, it is almost impossible to remove, so a preventative plan really is the only plan,” said Natalie Anderson, conservation specialist at Virgin Valley Water District.

Prevention also reduces costs and treatment needed down the line. It’s the pillar of Source Water Protection Week, an annual observance beginning next month that urges communities, decision-makers and consumers to “Protect the Source.”

In Virgin Valley, potential contaminants in the groundwater stem from sources like septic systems, lawn fertilizers, pesticides, petroleum or chemical spills, landfills, industrial sites and even firefighting activities. Naturally occurring arsenic in shallow groundwater also adds to the challenge.

Those risks are one reason the water district works closely with the Mesquite Fire Department, which alerts the district to spills, firefighting activities and training near protection zones.

“We knew, going in, that one of the most important things we could do would be to form relationships with others in our community who have influence and whose day to day could affect our drinking water’s health,” Anderson said.

Through the partnership, the fire department shares dates and locations of any activities that could impact groundwater, such as putting out a fire, flushing fire hydrants or training with firefighting foam.

“They also have access to the interactive community GIS viewer which will pinpoint if an area is in a protection zone or not, and they can use this information to plan training,” Anderson said. “Since firefighting activities are not necessarily in a fixed area, we wouldn’t otherwise have any idea where the potential issue might be.”

Education is also a central part of Virgin Valley’s source water protection strategy. Through school visits, community events and interactive tools, the utility aims to reach every corner of their community from preschoolers to senior citizens.

“Our most successful strategy for educating the public and key stakeholders about the importance of protecting our groundwater has been repetition and persistence,” said Anderson. “We realize that this is not a top priority for people. Most don’t even think about it, so our job is to get them thinking.”

Virgin Valley’s message is often summed up in a simple phrase: “You dump it, you drink it,” a reminder that everyday activities — from septic systems to lawn fertilizers — can contribute to groundwater contamination.

The utility’s outreach also targets future generations through the Student Water Ambassadors program, where high school students spend four months learning about the water sector, utility operations and how to protect source water.

This comprehensive approach earned the utility the 2025 Exemplary Source Water Protection Award for Medium Drinking Water Systems. “Winning this award tells us that although we are relatively small and isolated, we have created a plan with pieces that could be replicated and effective for systems anywhere,” Anderson said.

To learn more about comprehensive programs like Virgin Valley’s or to participate in Source Water Protection Week Sept. 28 to Oct. 4, visit this resource page.