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V ARTESIAN WATER SUPPLY Records indicate that for a number of years the amount of ?water pumped from the artesian "basin has materially exceeded the aquifer recharge of the "basin. In 19^-6 the amount withdrawn ?was approximately 150 per cent of the recharge. If this condition is allowed to continue, pumping of the artesian water will "be necessary within the near future, and ultimate failure of the "basin as a source of water supply is a definite possibility. It is obvious then that the amount of water drawn from the artesian basin should be limited to the amount by which the aquifer is recharged. If this were done, the present domestic demand in the Las Vegas Valley would exceed the available supply by 5 million gallons per day, or nearly 2 billion gallons per year. ANTICIPATED DEMANDS It is conservatively estimated that the population in the metropolitan area will be increased by 10,000 within the next 20 years. At the present rate of consumption this population increase would re­sult in a corresponding increase in the water demand of approximately 6.0 m. g. d. Army authorities estimate that the increase in demand at the Aruy Air Field will be 3.5 mi. g. d. The deficiencies previously mentioned take no account of the present over-usage of artesian water for irrigation purposes, nor of any increased demand for irrigation water. Another water supply prob­lem which affects the Las Vegas area from an economic standpoint, is -2-