Partnership with Southern Nevada Water Authority, as well as WaterStart and MGM Resorts International, to use atmospheric water generators to capture humidity and offset water footprint
· First-of-its-kind initiative in Formula 1® racing is part of Las Vegas Grand Prix’s longer-term goal to achieve net-zero water consumption
Las Vegas Grand Prix, Inc. today announced the launch of a first-of-its-kind water conservation program to implement technologies that can reduce, and eventually offset, outdoor water consumption at large-scale sporting events. The initiative will be rolled out at MGM Grand Hotel & Casino in partnership with Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA), WaterStart and MGM Resorts ahead of the FORMULA 1 HEINEKEN SILVER LAS VEGAS GRAND PRIX 2023 in November. At scale, the water conservation program could make it possible for the event to be the first Net-Zero Water Consumption race in Formula 1® history.
The Las Vegas Grand Prix will install an atmospheric water generator (“AWG”) to offset the expected outdoor water usage throughout race weekend. Atmospheric water generators are used around the world today to capture water vapor that would otherwise be considered waste product and return it back into the system – in some areas of the world, this process is being used to create drinkable water in settings where there is no access to running water. The second largest consumption of water in Las Vegas is commercial cooling, a process that utilizes water to cool the temperature inside buildings. These cooling systems also produce humid air that is lost to the atmosphere. To maximize the amount of water captured and ultimately produced, the Las Vegas Grand Prix and its partners will leverage the high relative humidity generated from a commercial cooling tower at MGM Grand during the race.
In the weeks leading up to the race, a pre-pilot phase will be conducted to install the atmospheric water generator and assess its performance as it converts the “plume” of moist air released from the cooling tower into water. Specific targets for water conservation during the race will be further informed by the pre-pilot phase.
“As responsible stewards of resources in the communities where we race, we are honored to partner with our neighbors on this innovative water conservation program,” said Renee Wilm, Chief Executive Officer of Las Vegas Grand Prix, Inc. “This project not only benefits our home in the Valley but also sets a new aspiration for global motorsports. If successful, the Las Vegas Grand Prix is aiming to become the first Net-Zero Water Consumption race in Formula 1 history.”
In 2019, F1® launched a sustainability strategy with a target to be a net-zero carbon sport by 2030 and host more sustainable events. The Las Vegas Grand Prix has committed to various sustainability initiatives in support of these goals, such as the elimination of avoidable single-use plastics and has identified water conservation efforts as a key component to ultimately achieving a more sustainable event.
The Las Vegas Grand Prix’s primary water consumption is the water used to prep the surface of the streets, which helps ensure the safety of the track for racing. However, more than two decades of drought conditions in the Colorado River Basin have reduced reservoir levels in Lake Mead, the source of 90 percent of Las Vegas’s water supply. In 2022, the federal government declared an official water shortage on the Colorado River, impacting roughly 25 million people in the U.S. who rely on Colorado River water from Lake Mead. Water conservation is a critical component of Las Vegas’ sustainable water management practices.
“As Las Vegas continues to manage its limited water supply, it’s important that we do our part in reducing Las Vegas Grand Prix’s total outdoor water consumption,” said Pilar Harris, Senior Director of CSR, Sustainability, and Government Relations at Las Vegas Grand Prix, Inc. “With this innovative program, we hope to identify new solutions for any business looking to reduce water consumption in our desert home.”
“Given the severity of our drought in Clark County, we always appreciate proactive efforts from private partners to minimize their water use,” said Clark County Commissioner Marilyn Kirkpatrick, who serves as chair of the Board of Directors of the Southern Nevada Water Authority. “This project has the potential to serve as a template for other events held in our community and reaffirming our collective commitment to water conservation in our destination.”
From Our Partners:
· David Johnson, SNWA Deputy General Manager, at Southern Nevada Water Authority: “Southern Nevada continues to be a world leader in water conservation and efficiency. Through this partnership, we are not only helping offset water use for the Las Vegas Grand Prix event, but also establishing a water-saving precedent for future large-scale events in our community.”
· Nate Allen, Executive Director at WaterStart: “WaterStart has led water innovation projects around the world since being founded in Las Vegas 10years ago. We are thrilled to have a renowned organization like the Las Vegas Grand Prix as the first corporation of its kind to step forward to partner with our members. The Las Vegas Grand Prix is setting an example for its peers to invest in the communities they reach through teams of knowledgeable and forward-thinking partners like SNWA and MGM. At WaterStart, we hope this is just the start of new corporate partnerships that help accelerate the deployment of new innovative water solutions.”
· Michael Gulich, Vice President of Environmental Sustainability and ESG Reporting at MGM Resorts International: “With the majority of our operations located in the desert destination of Las Vegas, MGM Resorts has long been committed to water conservation, with particular focus on consumptive water use. We are thrilled to continue our water stewardship journey with this exciting and collaborative initiative.”
