Map Shows Cities That Have No Water Backup If Lake Powell, Mead Fails
Summary
Smaller towns in the western United States are more at risk of water shortages during droughts because they rely mainly on one water source, mainly Lake Powell or Lake Mead. Large cities like Phoenix and Las Vegas have backup systems, but places like Page and LeChee in Arizona and Boulder City in Nevada are more vulnerable if water levels drop too low.Key Facts
- Smaller towns often have one main water source and fewer backup options.
- Page, Arizona, gets all its water from Lake Powell and could lose water if the lake’s level drops too much.
- The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation built a lower-elevation water intake at Glen Canyon Dam in 2023 to help Page and nearby LeChee keep water during low lake levels.
- LeChee, on the Navajo Nation, also depends heavily on Lake Powell for water.
- Boulder City, Nevada, relies on Lake Mead and doesn’t recycle water back into the lake like other nearby communities.
- Henderson and other parts of the Las Vegas Valley rely heavily on water from Lake Mead through regional water authorities.
- Federal efforts are ongoing to assess and reduce water risks for these communities.
- Developing new water supplies is expensive, especially for smaller communities with fewer customers to share costs.
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