Skip to main content
Start of main content

Securing a sustainable water supply for southern Nevada

At a Glance

  • 1,200

    MGD Intake

  • 900

    MGD Pump Station

  • 20

    Foot Diameter Tunnel

Location
Nevada
Offices
Client
  • Southern Nevada Water Authority
Award
2016 Award of Merit (ASCE)
Joint Venture
MWHill with Stantec

Lake Mead Intake No. 3 and Pumping Station

When the Southern Nevada Water Authority Capital Improvements Program needed to ensure services could be delivered even when Lake Mead was at low levels, they turned to the experts. In a joint venture with another firm, we provided extensive preliminary and final design phase services throughout construction to bring the Authority’s goal of full system capacity at low lake levels to fruition.

Geological conditions were a challenge on this project, particularly the presence of groundwater. Located primarily in the tertiary sedimentary rock of the muddy creek formation, the tunnel had to withstand a full 17 bar pressure. The tunnel boring machine was required to change between pressurized and unpressurized modes, and tunnel through rock, soil, and mixed face conditions. It traveled through three miles of solid rock and came within less than an inch of the center of its target while setting the record for current tunnel boring machine technology.

Approximately 90% of the drinking water delivered to customers in southern Nevada comes from the Colorado River, which is captured at Lake Mead. Thanks to our team, safe drinking water is consistently available to southern Nevada communities regardless of lake levels. 

At a Glance

  • 1,200

    MGD Intake

  • 900

    MGD Pump Station

  • 20

    Foot Diameter Tunnel

Location
Nevada
Offices
Client
  • Southern Nevada Water Authority
Award
2016 Award of Merit (ASCE)
Joint Venture
MWHill with Stantec

Meet Our Team

Justin D. Bartels, Principal, Hydraulic Engineer

Treating water with respect will help is build a better, more sustainable future.

Michael Manwaring, Senior Principal, Regional Sector Leader, Energy

Every energy storage project is a community project—they provide the essential power we need to function.
Michael Manwaring Senior Principal, Regional Sector Leader, Energy Read More

Russ Snow, Senior Vice President, Conveyance

The greatest satisfaction in my career is delivering major water infrastructure projects and see—firsthand—the benefit that it brings to the public.

Craig Wilcox, Vice President, Director of Engineering Delivery

Our breadth and depth of internal technical resources aren’t only well known in the industry—we’re sought out to solve the most challenging problems.
Craig Wilcox Vice President, Director of Engineering Delivery Read More

Carolyn Randolph Loar, Principal Engineering Geologist

I’m passionate about geological data and investigations. I believe they’re the foundation for any successful engineering project.

Justin D. Bartels

Principal, Hydraulic Engineer

Michael Manwaring

Senior Principal, Regional Sector Leader, Energy

Russ Snow

Senior Vice President, Conveyance

Craig Wilcox

Vice President, Director of Engineering Delivery

Carolyn Randolph Loar

Principal Engineering Geologist

We’re better together

  • Become a client

    Partner with us today to change how tomorrow looks. You’re exactly what’s needed to help us make it happen in your community.

  • Design your career

    Work with passionate people who are experts in their field. Our teams love what they do and are driven by how their work makes an impact on the communities they serve.

End of main content
To top