Pahrump Wells (Las Vegas: real estate, buying a house, buying)

[Chowgirl]

Someone told me that the wells in Pahrump are running dry. Any truth to that or just another Pahrump water story!! ??

[Mike from back east]

I did a quick google and found this article from a couple years ago which states "Nevada’s top water regulator has ordered a halt to residential well drilling in Pahrump in hopes of slowing the decline of the community’s overtaxed groundwater supply."

Here's one from 18 months ago that indicates the matter is in the courts.

Here's one from 10 months ago that the Nevada Supreme Court held a hearing.

Here's one from July 2020 that the matter is still before the state supreme court.

That may have changed since then, further diligence is required. In the western USA water is scarce and getting more scarce and more expensive. Myself, I'd avoid that area because the water issue is only going to get worse until we get several years of abundant rainfall. There is an amazing body of law governing water use in the west under the Colorado River Compact.

[Mike from back east]

For a long time lvmensch was President or one of the Directors of the Nevada Well Owners Association. He know a good bit about the issues with wells and is the source of this info.

The problem with Pahrump is straightforward and goes back many years. Well back when Pahrump was very rural they actually had large rice farms. Those places got well permits that should never have been given. The State Engineer over-permitted Pahrump by a large amount.

As it began to develop as a small city the residents used the domestic well laws to drill many wells. These permits were really aimed at more rural situations and allowed each lot to pump 2.1 acre feet...they actually pump less than half this but it still contributed to overdrawing the aquifer.

The domestic wells are an interesting legal case. Does the State Engineer have the authority to prevent domestic wells? Some think that is not in the law and that the Nevada Supreme Court is ducking the issue because they do not want to prevent limitations.

So for some years the water table under Pahrump has dropped a foot or so each year. It is often suggested that Parhump wells be drilled 50-100 feet deeper than the water level so they will have reasonable chance to produce as the water level falls further.

There is no Colorado River water in Pahrump and it is unlikely that there will be any in the future. The Colorado River water is consumed by Las Vegas and its suburbs.

There are some other aquifers to the north of Pahrump but they cannot be pumped much because they extend close to the Nuclear Test Area where the aquifers are contaminated. So no one wants to let that contamination spread to the south.

[cre8lite]

very good explanation mike! a few years back, when the state engineer came thru & started the panic about capping/monitoring our domestic wells, i did hear about wells on the south end of town running dry BUT at that time rumor around town was "use it or lose it" with regards to their water rights. so some of the iditots were turning on the hose & walking away, letting the water run for DAYS. it was disgusting to watch.

thankfully that habit has slowed considerably.

[NotStlF52]

Hello My Wife and I are looking at buying a House in Pahrump......If we buy and existing House and have to drill a deeper well (maybe to 200ft.) can anybody give me a ballpark on the cost?.....and I would appreciate if someone could send me a DM for a good agent we can trust.

[cre8lite]

DM sent for real estate agent

as for well drilling, i'd contact civilwise:
Civilwise Services, Inc – Land Surveying, Civil Engineering and Water Rights

[scwnevada]

Greetings.
Looking for opinions on the water issues, with the current expansion of track homes and the constant State Water Engineer stories over the past 10yrs. Things have gone quiet. So are you running out of water or not?
I know there are many opinions, however why would anyone spent 250K on a home that is supposedly going to run out of water in the future? (I've been listening to the rumors for 30yrs over here on the otherside of the hump)

[cre8lite]

are we running out of water? no will we in the future? maybe. my crystal ball is broken at the moment.

post #3 contains a lot of good information. it's well worth the read