Posted by:
Amyjo
(
)
Date: August 01, 2017 10:55AM
It isn't only Washington County that has a water problem in the state of Utah.
"Washington County Water Conservancy District said Utah's water supply currently supports 2.8 million residents, 81,000 businesses, 878,000 households, 1.2 million non-farm employees, $118 billion in gross state product and $90 billion in aggregate gross income but, Utah is about to enter a fourth consecutive year of drought....
Thompson said with the population expected to double in the next 45 years, the main concern is to develop additional water resources and find the best methods to use them wisely.
Additional water resources include a 140-mile pipeline from the Colorado River at Lake Powell.
"Lake Powell has to happen. It continues to go through the environmental process. That's a long protracted process," Thompson said.
He said the final permitting process for the pipeline will take at least 2-3 years. In the meantime, what's being done to conserve water?....
"Most of our communities have time and watering ordinances, particularly in the summer, so we try to get those people off those hot, windy days and into the time their irrigation system is more efficient," Thompson said.
Utah is the 2nd driest state in the nation so water districts already have or may apply higher rates to people who waste water.
"We do need to become more efficient and more effective but that does cost in order to do that. Whether it's at the district level or the homeowner level, it does cost money to conserve," said Todd Adams of Division of Water Resources.
Adams said the goal was for people to take the information from the conference and apply them to their local neighborhoods.
Officials said the state goal is to have a 25% reduction in per capita water use by 2025. Washington County has already achieved a 26% reduction and is working toward a goal of 35%."
http://www.good4utah.com/news/local-utah-state-news-/tackling-water-issues-at-the-2015-water-users-workshop-in-st-george/204341244