Quick quiz: What’s one of the safest beverages you can drink in Southern Nevada? If your answer is “tap water,” you’re right!
Southern Nevada’s municipal water supply meets or surpasses all State of Nevada and Federal Safe Drinking Water Act standards. In fact, the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) tests your water 300,000 times a year. It goes above and beyond by monitoring for more regulated and unregulated contaminants than is required by law.
Measured in parts per billion and parts per million, the SNWA’s rigorous testing monitors drinking water for 91 regulated and 75 unregulated contaminants, ensuring that the water delivered to you and your family is of the highest quality. To put that in perspective, picture an Olympic-sized swimming pool (with a capacity of about 660,000 gallons). Then, realize that:
- Each part per billion = 1 drop of water in an Olympic-sized swimming pool
- Each part per million = 1 cup of water in an Olympic-sized swimming pool
SNWA’s Alfred Merritt Smith and River Mountains water treatment facilities utilize advanced drinking water treatment processes that provide multiple barriers to protect drinking water. A state-of-the-art ozonation process eliminates naturally occurring microorganisms commonly found in lakes and a multi-stage filtration process removes particles. Finally, a small amount of chlorine is added to protect the water on its way to your tap.
While some might shy away from our tap water due to its hard, mineral-rich taste, you can rest assured it’s safe to enjoy. Naturally occurring minerals and electrolytes keep you hydrated and healthy.
So, the next time you find yourself about to overpay for “electrolyte-enhanced” bottled water (aka purified tap water that is regulated less stringently than tap), think twice and reconsider the more affordable and reliable option right at your fingertips: high-quality tap water sourced from the pristine Colorado Rocky Mountains.
Get more information about water quality and safety and learn simple ways to enhance the taste at snwa.com.
Members of the editorial and news staff of the Las Vegas Review-Journal were not involved in the creation of this content.