Letter from Thomas A. Campbell (Las Vegas) to William Reinhardt (Los Angeles), April 7, 1954

Las Vegas Water Supply Increase Dear Mr. Reinhardt: Thank you for responding so promptly to our April 1 letter requesting and urging that the Las Vegas Land and Water Company immediately proceed to develop or acquire additional production facilities in time to effectively cope with the critical water condition anticipated during the coming summer . As pointed out in your April 5 letter, the statements and recommendations made by Mr. J. M. Montgomery, District Engineer, with respect to both the urgency and feasibility of increasing the water supply before the heavy demand begins are based on a study of the situation. This was undertaken some time ago when it was anticipated that the District might be in a position to take over and operate the local system at an earlier date than is now possible. A detailed report containing definite recommendations and cost estimates is expected to be completed within the next week or ten days. As soon as it becomes available, you will be furnished with a copy as requested. As a result of the preliminary information furnished by Mr. Montgomery, the District is firmly of the opinion that an additional 4,000,000 to 5,000,000 gallons daily can be withdrawn as a temporary expedient in order to meet the impending summer emergency - and that the necessary steps to that end should be taken by your company as quickly as possible. In making the survey to develop ways and means of meeting the anticipated summer water shortage emergency, Mr. Montgomery has drawn on the experience of specialists in the field of ground water engineering. State Engineer Hugh A. Shamberger and his staff have also been cooperating in the study and Mr. Montgomery's final recommendations will be made with his full knowledge. The District recognizes, of course, that the "bottle-neck" is in the present inadequate reservoir capacity of the Las Vegas Land and Water Company system. Even with a curtailed yield resulting from a lower water table this summer, it appears that the present maximum production capacity of existing wells might be sufficient if production during slack consumption periods could be stored for peak demand. Since it will not be possible for either your company or the District to add needed reservoir capacity before the period of heavy demand, the only alternative appears to be in temporarily supplementing production from the underground source by a minimum of 4,000,000 gallons daily. Very sincerely yours, LAS VEGAS VALLEY WATER DISTRICT TAC:fb B y_ Thomas A. Campbell, President Mr. Wm. Reinhardt, Vice-President Las Vegas Land and Water Company 422 West Sixth Street Los Angeles 14, California