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B L A C K & V E A T C H The Board of Directors - 4 - use of water (370 gallons) by the patrons of the Las Vegas T^riri and Water Company utility and an estimate of the population of the urban area to be served by the Las Vegas Valley Water District (100,100) in that year. The charges for vater service in Las Vegas always have been made on a flat-rate schedule. There are no meters on customer service lines. The installation of meters throughout the system, if it can be accomplished within the provisions of State laws, and the billing of the customers on a quantity-use basis will, no doubt, reduce the average daily per capita consumption. Any such reduction in use would constitute a factor of safety in considering the adequacy of the pro­posed project. Water District Service Area. The land area within the boundaries of the Water District comprises 307 square miles, or 196,480 acres. Within this area are the cities of Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, and Henderson, the villages of Whitney and Pittman, the "Strip," and Nellis Air Force Base. The City of Las Vegas is served by the Las Vegas Land and Water Company, whose water utility property and business will be acquired by the Water District. North Las Vegas, a city having an estimated population of 6,000, has a municipally-owned water supply and distribution system. The Water District does not contemplate acquiring and operating this utility, but will be prepared to wholesale vater to the municipality if and when the needs of that city may so require. The City of Henderson, and the industrial chemical plants, located nearby, are, and wxll continue to be, supplied from the BMI water supply facilities. The small town of Whitney, located on U. S. High­way No. 95 southeast of Las Vegas, now has a local well supply and distribution system. This community could well be supplied by the District, since the route of the proposed transmission pipe line to Las Vegas passes through it. The "Strip," an area south of Las Vegas along U. S. Highway No. 91, contains numerous large hotels, motels, and other accommodations for visitors. In general, the large installations have their own deep wells and will continue to use them as long as they produce adequate supplies. Many of the smaller motels and restaurants have inadequate supplies. The District plans to extend its mains into this area to supply their requirements. The Nellis Air Force Base is located on U. S. Highway No. 91 about 8 miles north­east of Las Vegas. It has its own well supply and distribution system. It is classified as a permanent military installation. It has a military population of 3,000 and employs approximately 1,500 civilians. A large expansion program is now under construction which, it is understood, will materially increase its resident population. The District will be prepared to wholesale water to the Base when its needs may so require. It is estimated that the population to be served by the Water District outside of the City of Las Vegas will be approximately 10 per cent of the population of the City.