Utah residents may have to start conserving water

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH?EUR??,,????'??+In a state known for its majestic Rocky Mountains and wonderful winter skiing conditions, Utah is now faced with a water shortage for the sixth straight year. Although the state had a good base of snow this past winter, the snowpack was rapidly diminished during the dry months of the early spring. Consequently, runoff wasn?EUR??,,????'???t enough to recharge low reservoirs. Because of a warm, early spring, some of the snow melt off didn?EUR??,,????'???t ever make it to streams. Heat waves can also create more runoff, based on the location of the snow. Three future sources of water include re-used water, secondary water and up to 20,000 acre/feet from the Colorado River as part of the Central Utah Project. ?EUR??,,????'??With regards to watering regulations we have to assess each community,?EUR??,,????'?? said Stephanie Duer, Salt Lake City?EUR??,,????'???s water conservation coordinator. ?EUR??,,????'??The city has had droughts before and we?EUR??,,????'???ve had good success with voluntary rationing of water. Some of the adjustments made were that HOA prohibits turf requirements. The bigger picture is now in place.?EUR??,,????'?? Most of the ordinances have been created without turfgrass as a major landscape component, told Duer to LASN. Some of the ordinances address wasting of water issues as opposed to the timing of watering lawns. The ordinances of when and how much to water has become tough to enforce. Salt Lake City sets its own rates, but they can be different for each community. ?EUR??,,????'??Any rate structure can deliver a message about conservation,?EUR??,,????'?? said Duer. ?EUR??,,????'??Typically, these aren?EUR??,,????'???t punitive measures. You can?EUR??,,????'???t just arbitrarily change rates because you want to but have to show just cause. It?EUR??,,????'???s hard to get that balance. You don?EUR??,,????'???t want to price people out of their homes.?EUR??,,????'?? During the summer peak times residents use up to six times more water than they would during winter peak usage. Duer said the goal was to reduce the summer peak demand. Depending on the municipality, fines can be levied to residents for over-watering their turf. Through the mayor?EUR??,,????'???s office Salt Lake City can declare different stages of a drought. Some communities charge surcharges based on the stage of the drought, but Utah hasn?EUR??,,????'???t resorted to that yet. With 85 percent of the state?EUR??,,????'???s water budget pinpointed to agriculture uses such as alfalfa, wheat, cattle and cherries, Duer pointed out the state has a strong block of voters in the state legislature and doesn?EUR??,,????'???t want to give up their water. The issue with the secondary water is that the water his high in salts and the soil is alkaline. Salt Lake City has done a feasibility study to reclaim 5 million gallons per day for watering golf courses. Part of the confusing issue is of ownership of the water when it leaves the water treatment plant. Currently Salt Lake City allocates about 60 percent of its water usage to residential and the rest to industrial and commercial usage. ?EUR??,,????'??The state is focused on the municipal and industrial areas, where the population lives,?EUR??,,????'?? said Duer. ?EUR??,,????'??Salt Lake City has its own conservation programs with the goal to reduce residential use by 13 percent total and 20 percent during the summer. We?EUR??,,????'???ve already achieved our long term usage goals.?EUR??,,????'?? A 3/4 inch equivalent meter size has been able to support a 20 percent increase in the population because the demand for water has been the same. ?EUR??,,????'??At the local county extension office we know that some people are over-watering their lawns by 20 to 50 percent,?EUR??,,????'?? said Duer. ?EUR??,,????'??They need to water more appropriately. When I driver around I see more landscapes where turf is no longer the primary plant.?EUR??,,????'??