Henderson
Henderson, NV water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
henderson city of
surface water (rivers/reservoirs) · local government · PWSID NV0000076
Below EPA's 15 ppb lead action level at last testing.
Source: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) · 2026 Q1
With about 285,667 residents, Henderson ranks as the 2nd-largest city in Nevada and a large city. Water in Henderson is sourced chiefly from Colorado River (Lake Mead), groundwater, and Truckee River, the backbone of Nevada's supply.
The defining water pressure here mirrors the state's: colorado river. Las Vegas recycles nearly all indoor water back to Lake Mead and has removed hundreds of millions of square feet of grass — a national model for the driest state.
Statewide, Nevada recycles about 60% of its wastewater with established reuse programs. Locally, Henderson faces severe to extreme drought conditions.
The Nevada state profile covers the regional supply outlook; the issues below detail what's driving Henderson's water future.
Clark County water quality
Source: EPA SDWIS · 2026 Q1
At a glance
- Population ~285,667 (2nd-largest in Nevada)
- Primary sources: Colorado River (Lake Mead), groundwater, and Truckee River
- Drought: severe to extreme conditions
- State reuse rate: ~60% of wastewater
Statewide drought history
% of Nevada in severe+ drought (Extreme (D3) now).
Source: U.S. Drought Monitor
Common questions
Is tap water safe in Henderson?
Henderson's largest water system, HENDERSON CITY OF, serves about 336,534 people. EPA records show 0 health-based violation(s) since 2016 and a most-recent 90th-percentile lead level of 3.8 ppb (EPA action level is 15 ppb). Always check your own provider's annual Consumer Confidence Report.
Where does Henderson get its water?
HENDERSON CITY OF draws primarily from surface water (rivers/reservoirs), part of Nevada's supply from Colorado River (Lake Mead), groundwater, Truckee River.
Related water issues
Colorado River
The river that supplies 40 million people has lost roughly a fifth of its flow since 2000, forcing a renegotiation of how seven states share the water.
ExploreDrought
Much of the American West is in a multi-decade dry period that researchers describe as the most severe in over a millennium, reshaping how communities plan for water.
ExplorePotable Reuse
Advanced purification turns treated wastewater into water that meets or exceeds drinking-water standards — increasingly essential in water-stressed regions.
ExploreGroundwater Depletion
Aquifers from the Central Valley to the Ogallala are being pumped faster than they recharge, causing land subsidence and threatening long-term supply.
Explore