Nevada is suing the federal government over a new Colorado River plan that could slash the Las Vegas area's water supply by up to 71%. After multistate negotiations failed, federal officials advanced their own framework to protect dropping reservoirs. Because Nevada relies almost entirely on this allocation for urban use unlike neighboring states that can fallow farmland, the cuts would directly threaten Las Vegas households and businesses. The state argues the federal review ignored alternative solutions and the economic consequences for a city that has already cut its per capita water use by 58% over two decades.
While the lawsuit surprised experts and raised tribal concerns about regulatory uncertainty, the legal challenge does not signal a complete collapse of regional cooperation. Nevada, Arizona and California already share a shortage agreement embedded in the federal framework through 2028. Furthermore, litigation does not preclude ongoing negotiations, allowing states to pursue temporary arrangements while courts review Nevada's claims.
NSF Awards $7.9 Million for Vermont PFAS Research Network
The U.S. National Science Foundation has awarded $7.9 million to establish the four-year PFAS Environmental Research Network, a collaborative initiative aimed at investigating chemical contamination across Vermont. The network brings together researchers from Middlebury College, the University of Vermont and Landmark College alongside state health and environmental agencies. PERN seeks to generate actionable data on how PFAS move through groundwater and impact public health.
The funding will support state laboratory systems and research infrastructure while addressing primary exposure routes. By combining expertise across geology, biology, data science, and social sciences, the network aims to strengthen Vermont's STEM workforce and inform local and national policy.
NUCA Offers Statement on Cuts to America's Water Infrastructure Resources
The National Utility Contractors Association recently issued a statement by NUCA Chief Advocacy Officer Zack Perconti regarding the Sept. 3 hearing in the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Environment Subcommittee on the Safe Drinking Water Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2026.
“The discussion draft of the Safe Drinking Water Act of 2026 circulated by the House Energy and Commerce Committee majority proposes to squeeze the very programs that help keep tap water safe in American homes, schools, hospitals and businesses. Authorizing a 68% cut to the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund while communities face a 20-year, $1.2 trillion backlog in drinking water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure needs is not fiscal discipline. It is deferred maintenance disguised as budget savings.”
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