WORLD / Science & Health

U.S. declares first Western reservoir water shortage, triggering cuts

A paddle-boarder rides with a dog at the Lake Mead Marina on the Colorado River in Boulder City, Nevada on July 21. A huge reservoir that supplies water to tens of millions of people in the Western U.S. is at such a low level that populations it feeds must reduce their usage next year. | AFP-JIJI

REUTERS

Aug 17, 2021

U.S. officials for the first time on Monday issued an official water shortage declaration for the massive Western reservoir of Lake Mead, triggering supply cuts to parts of the drought-stricken Southwest.

The shortage will reduce water apportionments to Arizona, Nevada and Mexico for the year beginning in October, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation said in a statement.

Arizona will lose 18% of its annual apportionment, while Nevada will see cuts of 7%. Apportionments to Mexico, which are required under a 1944 treaty, will be cut by 5%.

U.S. declares first Western reservoir water shortage, triggering cuts

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