With the continued drought conditions, it is more critical than ever to learn to conserve water here in Utah. We touched on the topic in a previous post, but let’s dig into it a little more here.
Just recently Salt Lake City mayor Mendenhall spoke out about the needs here in the state. Last year the city ended summer in stage 2 (mild drought restrictions) of Salt Lake City’s 5 stage plan. Current conditions and a less than average snowpack have put us back there starting this water year. Governor Cox also declared a state of emergency due to the dire drought conditions affecting the entire state. So this is something we all need to be aware of and make efforts to help.
A lot of us got into gardening during the pandemic. By all means, keep your garden, but put in a drip irrigation system for that garden. You will save money and water by making this switch. If that is not an option right now, check your sprinkler system for broken or misaligned spray heads. If you are watering by hand or hose, set a timer so you do not let the water run over.
Depending on your city ordinances, xeriscaping your yard would be a great option for saving water as well, and it just looks good, considering the climate and landscape around here. Some cities are allowing for artificial turf in place of grass. In an experiment to combat the drought emergency, portions of grass around the West Valley City Hall have been replaced by artificial turf.
Utahwatersavers.com has a ‘Flip Your Strip’ rebate program that will reward you for replacing the grass on your park strip in front of your house if you have one. According to their website, removing lawn from your park strip will save an estimated 5,000-8,000 gallons of water each year. You could receive up to $1.25 per square foot for replacing the lawn in your park strip with a water-efficient design.
There are also multiple programs locally that are selling rain barrels. Most are sold out this year, but you can get on waiting lists for next year’s allotments for these subsidized barrels.
Water conservation happens inside the house too, think about low-flow faucets, toilets, and showerheads. And fixing any leaky faucets and fixtures promptly will help reduce water use.
Water is a precious limited resource. Utah is a great place to live and people are recognizing that and moving here more and more. So we need to do what we can to keep it livable for all of us who love this great state.
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