Utah had a long, hot summer—intesified by the state’s ongoing megadrought. As KUER reported, we might be facing even more drought in years to come. This means that Utah can’t rely on heavy snow years alone to refill Great Salt Lake—we need to be aggressive with our water policy and smart with our water use.
Just a few weeks ago, Governor Cox announced a timeline to restore Great Salt Lake to a healthy level by the 2034 Olympics. This is a monumental start, but there is still so much work to be done. After a summer where dust storms blew heavy metals like arsenic and lead across the Wasatch front, it’s clear every community, city, and household must be part of the solution.
Municipal and industrial water use is estimated to be about 20% of overall water consumption in Utah. This use is shared by nearly everyone (brushed your teeth lately?). Municipal governments control how this water is used by homeowners, businesses owners, churches and schools through ordinances, water rates, and conservation programs.
Utahn’s urban outdoor water use presents a great opportunity for water savings! It’s estimated that Utah households use 60% of their water for outdoor use—which, unlike indoor use, cannot be captured, recycled, and reused. Reducing outdoor municipal water is an important way to help restore Great Salt Lake, and it largely depends on local governments.
Here are several ways your local government can help:
Tiered-pricing: This strategy is considered one of the most effective tools to decrease urban water consumption. Water conservancy districts divide different quantities of water consumption into tiers (for example, 1000-2000 gallons per month, 2000-3000 gallons per month, etc.) and charge higher prices per gallon as water users move up tiers. This encourages residents to use less water so they can pay less per gallon. Tiered pricing can also be used to increase the price per gallon during drought conditions or summer months.
Restrictions: Cities can reduce water waste by limiting when residents water their lawns or other landscaping. Your local government could require residents to only water during cooler hours, during a certain day of the week, for less than an hour—or prohibit them from watering in the winter or during storms. If you’re a homeowner, you don’t need to wait for your city to pass these ordinances—you can save water by changing your own practices right now!
Cities can also mandate new developments to use drought-tolerant plants because it’s much cheaper to start with waterwise landscaping.
Incentives: Imagine being paid to save water! Rebate programs give money back to people who implement certain water-saving measures, like replacing grass parking strips with local vegetation or installing smart sprinklers which track soil moisture so lawns aren’t overwatered. These programs can be expensive to operate but may be more politically palatable than restrictions. Other incentive programs may offer free or discounted drought-tolerant turf seeds for people willing to replace their lawns. These yards are cheaper, easier to maintain, and attract pollinators!
Education: Although resource-intensive, educational campaigns are an important addition to other water conservation measures. Cities may consider partnering with groups like Utah State University Extension and the Utah Native Plant Society to provide resources to residents.
While changing how we use outdoor water may seem intimidating, many solutions are simple! By changing watering schedules and rates, we can save money. Others, like removing grass lawns in favor of native plants, are a beautifying, less-water-intensive solution. Water that isn’t diverted for municipal use stays in rivers and reservoirs, intended to reach Great Salt Lake.
Your municipality may be electing new officials on November 4th. Local leaders have a large influence over how our water is managed. Compared to state and federal elections, your vote goes farthest in municipal elections, and has the power to decide who will lead on conservation. Ask candidates where they stand on water conservation before you cast your vote. In between elections, your voice is just as important: show up at town meetings, write to your representatives, and let them know you expect policies that conserve water and protect our Great Salt Lake.
Together, we can make a difference and save our home!
