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- calendar_today October 31, 2026
UNLV’s Commitment to Water Conservation
The University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) is taking proactive measures to address ongoing water challenges by developing innovative water-saving projects and launching a new website dedicated to irrigation management and drought solutions.
Center for Urban Water Conservation Leads Efforts
Dr. Dale Devitt, a professor in the Life and Sciences Department at UNLV, heads the Center for Urban Water Conservation, located in the northern part of Las Vegas. Dr. Devitt and his team consistently seek effective ways to assess and manage plant water use in response to current drought conditions and the low water levels in Lake Mead.
Dr. Devitt explained, “Our goal is to quantify how much plants need as far as their water requirements, but also how much stress they can handle if we have to deficit irrigate. We want to know which plants can adapt and handle that type of stress.”
Nevada Meteorological (Nev Met) Website to Aid Irrigation Scheduling
UNLV’s latest initiative includes the rollout of the Nevada Meteorological website, or Nev Met, aimed at providing accurate data on environmental demand to help residents and professionals schedule their irrigation more effectively. The website is designed to be user-friendly: anyone can access it, select the weather station nearest to them, and download relevant data for their location.
Dr. Devitt said, “There should be graphs showing how the information is changing over time.” The new tool is expected to help users understand seasonal changes — with environmental demand being lowest in winter, rising through spring, peaking in summer, and declining again in fall. By aligning irrigation practices with this bell-shaped curve, maximum water savings can be achieved.
Five Weather Stations Powering Data Collection
To facilitate the Nev Met website, five weather stations are being deployed across the Las Vegas valley. Four of these are located on golf courses, while the fifth is at the Center for Urban Water Conservation itself. The data collected will inform users on optimal irrigation scheduling and support efforts in landscape water use reduction.
Additional Water-Saving Projects and Urban Planning
The Center is also working on projects to combat the urban heat island effect and explore alternatives for traditional turf grass. Dr. Devitt noted the significant growth in Las Vegas’s population since he moved there in 1984, increasing from 400,000 to 2.4 million people. He advocates for smart growth strategies, including vertical expansion and landscaping that utilizes native plants and prioritizes drip irrigation systems.
Looking Forward: Website Launch and Future Initiatives
The Nev Met website is anticipated to launch in November 2026, providing timely resources for both commercial and residential users aiming for enhanced water conservation. Through these integrated efforts, UNLV is positioning itself at the forefront of sustainable drought solutions in the region.
Source: 8newsnow.com.
