Engineering Sustainable Water Consumption in the Western Part of the U.S. Casinos

Abstract

In recent years the frequency of the term sustainability has increased in both literature and pop culture, specifically regarding the environment. With Casinos utilizing hundreds, sometimes thousands, of gallons of water daily, the sustainability of their methods is often questioned. With the rise in innovations, existing studies tend to be outdated and usually lack content about initiatives made by engineers in sustainable systems, showing the need for research analyzing these gaps. This study defines sustainability according to engineers both working in the field and retired, as well as their insight on the efficacy of current sustainability initiatives in casinos. With a total of 6 interviews, this paper defines sustainability as the utilization of resources without jeopardizing the future generation’s ability to utilize the same resources. It is uncovered how water is withdrawn from Lake Mead and most, if not all, is restored through the use of a credit system (defined in this paper). Plants across the valley ensure water is adequately cleaned and recirculated in Lake Mead to ensure Vegas’ thus far outstanding credit is maintained. Recent laws have been passed completely banning the future construction of golf courses or long landscapes for sustainability. Casinos are under the same scrutiny and regulation of water consumption as residential consumers; they are required to limit landscaping and cooling systems that could potentially expend water in a way that cannot be reclaimed. This paper explains the effectiveness of water consumption procedures in Casinos to combat water depletion in the Las Vegas Valley.