Jordan River
(November 2004)
As of the second week of November, Deer Creek Reservoir is at 54% of its capacity. At this level, the reservoir has twenty-two percent more water than the same time last year. Jordanelle Reservoir, however, has continued to decline in the last month from 77% to 69% of capacity. Collectively, the storage has only increased by less than one percent or about 5,500 acre-feet over the same time period last year. Salt Lake Public Utilities is continuing to utilize their storage in Mountain Dell and Little Dell Reservoirs. Although these reservoir levels are declining, they are still well within their “conservation pool” amounts. Overall, the basin is seeing another year of decreased storage going into the fall season.
The concern over the low level of Utah Lake still continues as it is within only inches of dropping to the primary storage amount. The lake is still more than six and one-half feet below the defined “compromise” level.
Overall water use continues to decline compared to last year. However, the declines are getting less significant percentage wise. Certainly there is more efficient use of water yet to come. However, the immediate steps have mostly been accomplished. It is now necessary to insure that those steps become “normal” habits (instead of simply a conservation reaction due to the current drought) while more efficient water use continues to be worked on.
Draper City (Water Pro, Inc.):
With only purchased water from JVWCD and Water Pro, Inc., the city is continuing to aggressively pursue water conservation. The city is participating in the “Slow the Flow” campaign as well as educating their customers through information supplied in their billings and articles in local newsletters. Water Pro has completed and put into operation an upgrade to their treatment plant, increasing its capacity to 6 mgd (million gallons per day). Additionally, a new 750,000 gallon storage tank has been put into service for the Traverse Ridge area. Irrigation water was shut down two weeks earlier than last year.
Granger-Hunter Improvement District (GHID) - West Valley
City (WVC):
The district’s two new wells are now on-line, ready to augment the district’s own supplies of water. Connection fees for new connections have been increased, according to the approved schedule, funding upcoming improvements to the system. Currently the district is supplying about one third of the demand with their wells. The other two thirds is purchased water from JVWCD
Holliday Water Company:
Water supplies from their springs and wells are still holding up. There haven’t been any mandatory restrictions on watering amounts yet. However, the company has changed their rate structure to four levels from two levels to further encourage conservation and efficient water use.
Kearns Improvement District (KID) - West Valley City and
Salt Lake County:
The district has incorporated several changes for water conservation. The new increasing block water rates are now in effect. Bill stuffers and education programs will further customer awareness of conservation and/or the effective use of water. A conservation coordinator is now on staff. Presentations on wise water use are being given at several community events.
Planning is continuing for a secondary water system in the district. Funds are currently being collected towards the effort of providing secondary water for outside watering in possibly five years. The district’s rate structure now has four tiers, with the top level charging $4.00 per thousand gallons of water use.
Magna Improvement District:
The District’s secondary water system has been connected to the schools. Other large users such as the parks, churches, etc. are being connected and should be on line beginning next year. A majority of residential customers are now connected to the secondary system. The district is currently evaluating meters for the individual connections to more accurately track and bill the secondary water delivered.
Midvale City:
All city parks and other landscaped areas have been closely monitored, with significant reduction of water use compared with last year. Meter audits are being conducted to insure proper accounting and payment for water use. Water use is continuing to decline overall. All of their well levels seem to be stabilizing.
Murray City:
The new rate increase is now in effect that changes the rate for water use over 100 cubic feet (7,480 gallons) from $0.62 to $1.04 per 1000 gallons. Additionally, the city has passed an administrative policy restricting watering from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., along with other guidelines. Letters are being issued to citizens that break the policy. The new replacement well and storage reservoir is now online.
Riverton City:
Conservation measures are continuing. The available secondary water from canals was again used extensively for outside watering of city properties.
Salt Lake City Public Utilities:
A focus on water conservation continues. Usage for this summer was about 3% lower than last summer, overall. The city is again targeting the industrial and commercial customers with their education campaign. The new increasing block rate for water charges is in effect for all customers, creating a measurable reduction in “high end” use. SLCPU will continue the education of their customers through multiple media sources. The water check program will continue through JVWCD.
SLCPU is continuing to monitor the level of Utah Lake . Although the Diamond Fork system is in operation bringing Strawberry reservoir water to the basin, there will most likely be little net gain of water supply. Above normal future precipitation and snow pack for several years will be required to return stored supplies to more normal levels.
Sandy City:
Seasonal water rates are still in effect. The city has developed and used their three new wells. Irrigation water was used for the parks. Conservation education is being promoted through the city’s demonstration gardens, as well as continuing participation in the “Slow the Flow” campaign. A 6.5% rate increase has become effective, as of October.
A new city ordinance prohibits watering from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and has guidelines on commercial landscaping with a listing of acceptable plants and total lawn area. A separate meter is now required on all commercial landscape areas to better monitor outdoor water use.
City of South Jordan:
The city purchases all their water from Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District. All restrictions of the “Slow the Flow” campaign are being followed. The city wide secondary system is still being considered, with new developments being required to provide the water and pipelines for secondary water. A secondary system master plan is currently being worked on.
South Salt Lake:
Rate changes are anticipated and being considered for next year. Conservation education is being pursued through the “Slow the Flow” campaign, as well as articles in local newsletters.
Taylorsville-Bennion Improvement District- Taylorsville
City, West Valley City, S.L.Co.:
Ground water levels continue to decline, even though overall water use has decreased from last year. The District is still supporting the “Slow the Flow” campaign, as well as providing wise water use information to their customers through bill stuffers.
West Jordan City:
Water production from city wells has been reduced to insure that the “Kennecott plume” does not migrate any closer to the groundwater supplies of the wells. The city has hired a person specifically for the city water conservation program and water use education campaign.
Irrigation (Secondary) Water:
Surface supplies for irrigation water were less than last year. Water to the canals of the valley was shut down two weeks earlier than last year due to the low level of Utah Lake.
Other surface supplies continue to be bleak. The Great Salt Lake is continuing its decline, with levels within a few feet of the lowest recorded elevation of about 4191.5 in 1961. The current elevation of the lake is about 4194 feet above sea level. The overall area of the lake is now less than half of what it was at its peak in 1987.
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