Virgin Valley Water District

All drinking water, including the less regulated bottled water, may be reasonably expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. It is important to remember that the presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that the water poses a health risk.

Each water source is tested either on a quarterly or annual basis for 76 different contaminants as required by State and Federal agencies. Results of those tests can be found by contacting the Water District at 702-346-5731 or checking the the Water Quality portion of our website.

Our water meets all drinking water standards and doesn’t require additional treatment beyond what it already receives; however the choice to use a home filtration system is yours to make. Home filtration products can reduce chlorine levels and water cloudiness, which some would prefer not to taste, smell or see. In some cases, these filtration products can also remove metals such as lead and copper that could dissolve in the water during contact with household plumbing. If you do decide to install and use a water-filtration system, it is important to follow the manufacturer’s maintenance specifications.

There are a few easy steps to follow if you suspect a leak on your property. Start by turning off all faucets and water-using appliances. Make sure no one uses water during the test period. Next, go out to your meter and look for the red triangle on the face of the meter. If the red triangle is turning, you have a leak somewhere on your property.

Is the leak inside or outside your home? Turn off your house valve (emergency shut-off valve, usually found below your hose spigot) and repeat the above process. If the dial has moved, the leak is between your meter and your home, otherwise, your leak is located inside your home, or in the pipes under your home.

• Check for toilets that run . . . the most common source of leaks is in the toilet. Check all toilets for leaks by placing a few drops of food coloring in the tank. If after one hour the dye shows up in the bowl, the toilet has a leak.
   
• Check for leaky faucets . . . the next place to check for leaks is your sink and bathtub faucets. One drop of water per second wastes 2,7000 gallons of water per year! Replacing the rubber O-ring or washer inside the valve can usually repair dripping faucets.

Yes. Drips waste a precious resource - water, and it costs you money. As an example, if you have a faucet that drips 60 times a minute, this adds up to over 3 gallons each day or 1,225 gallons each year. To fix a leak, call your local plumber.

No. Hazardous materials such as oils and paint thinners disrupt the collection system and the treatment plant. The wastewater plant process cannot remove all hazardous chemicals, therefore, some may enter our water sources. The more polluted the water, the harder it is to clean, and the more expensive a process it becomes.

No, not without further treatment. In a kidney dialysis machine, the water used is brought into close contact with the patient's blood. Thus, the quality requirements are far stricter than those for ordinary drinking water. Aluminum, fluoride, and chloramine are examples of substances that are not acceptable in water used for kidney dialysis. Kidney dialysis centers are kept informed about water quality and are able to give advice on this matter.

VVWD is required to test for lead every 3 years. There was no sign of lead at the 2006 testing. If present, the source is corrosion of household plumbing systems and erosion of natural deposits.

Yes. Many tests have shown that the amount of chlorine found in treated water is safe to drink. Chlorine is needed to maintain disinfection throughout the distribution system. The potential for water contamination when chlorine is not used, outweighs any long-term concerns.

The VVWD has collected some valuable resources for you to learn about water conservation.

This stain comes from the chemical copper. Copper is present in your home plumbing and can dissolve into the drinking water.

All five of the district’s federally-mandated arsenic treatment plants are on line.

Through the funding VVWD got from the Army Corps (of Engineers), the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and the state, the construction has been accomplished in a cost-effective way.

All the water we’re putting out is treated water and is below 10 parts per billion, the new, lower EPA requirement. We are proud of the efforts of our team to produce these results in such a short period of time.

Hardness levels in Nevada waters are generally low but can range from near zero to several hundred milligrams per liter as calcium carbonate (mg/L as CaCO3), the standard unit for hardness. The Virgin Valley water source has a hardness value of 154 mg/l and is described as hard, as you can see from the following table.

Hardness Range (mg/L as CaCO3)	Description
0-75	Soft
75-150	Moderately Hard
150-300	Hard
300+	Very Hard

The term hard water does not have a precise definition but is usually used to describe water which does not lather well when soap is added or which forms a scale inside hot water heaters. These problems are caused by high concentrations of the naturally occurring elements calcium and magnesium which depends largely on the local bedrock.

While there are no health-related regulations pertaining to drinking water hardness, a value below 100 mg/L is ideal for ordinary domestic purposes. Therefore, water softening for our residential customers is not necessary.

The cloudy water is caused by tiny air bubbles in the water similar to the gas bubbles in beer and carbonated soft drinks. It is particularly noticeable in water taken directly from the tap. Within seconds, the bubbles rise to the top and are gone. This type of cloudiness occurs more often in the winter, when water temperature is colder, and does not indicate any problem with the water.

Toilet flushing uses a lot of water, 40% of a household's total water usage. Putting something in the toilet tank that takes up space, like a toilet dam or a water filled jug, is a good idea. However, putting a brick in the tank is not a good idea. Bricks tend to crumble and may damage your toilet.