Flamingo Center Hosts Shallow Groundwater Pilot
The county has approved the site, but the pilot still needs a National Science Foundation grant before work begins.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Gambling
Live Poll
Should Southern Nevada invest in treating shallow groundwater to expand its water supply?
Valley water users may eventually see new supply from shallow groundwater, after the Clark County Commission approved the Flamingo Water Resource Center as a treatment pilot site. The Clark County Water Reclamation District will host the study, which would test whether shallow groundwater can be treated and added to the local supply.
Why it matters
Southern Nevada's water resources are limited, which is why the pilot is looking for additional supplies beyond current sources. Whether shallow groundwater can be treated safely and at a useful scale remains the open question the pilot is designed to answer.
The pilot is sited at the Flamingo Water Resource Center, the largest treatment facility in the district, approved by the Clark County Commission on November 4, 2026. No volume, cost, or capacity figures were included in the source, and the National Science Foundation grant that would help fund the work is still pending.
The players
Clark County Commission
The county body that approved the Flamingo Water Resource Center as the pilot site.
Desert Research Institute
The research institution leading the shallow groundwater treatment pilot.
Ardurra Group, Inc.
The firm co-leading the pilot with the Desert Research Institute.
National Science Foundation
The federal agency the group is seeking a grant from to support the pilot.
The details
The Clark County Commission approved the Flamingo Water Resource Center as the site for a pilot study on treating shallow groundwater, which the Clark County Water Reclamation District is set to host. The pilot would test treating brackish water or wastewater to extend water resources using shallow groundwater in the Las Vegas Valley. The Desert Research Institute and Ardurra Group, Inc. will lead the work, partnered with UNLV, UNR, and New Mexico Tech, and the group is seeking a National Science Foundation grant to support it.
Timeline
Tuesday, November 4, 2026: Clark County Commission approves the Flamingo Water Resource Center as the pilot site.
Beyond the Strip
Southern Nevada has long relied on the Colorado River, and the Southern Nevada Water Authority has pursued supply diversification to reduce that dependence. This pilot extends that effort by testing whether shallow groundwater beneath the valley can be treated and added to the supply.
If the pilot succeeds, residents could eventually see shallow groundwater added to the valley's supply, which matters for long-term water planning. For now, nothing changes on your water bill or service, and the next concrete milestone is the National Science Foundation grant decision.
The takeaway
Shallow groundwater treatment is still a pilot, not a supply source, so watch for the grant decision and the first results before assuming new capacity. Residents who want to follow the Clark County Water Reclamation District's progress can track its updates through the Clark County government website.
Further reading
For broader context on how the valley's resort economy shapes its water and growth decisions, see the Gambling coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Fox5vegas.
Live Poll
Should Southern Nevada invest in treating shallow groundwater to expand its water supply?
