- Water conditions not critical, yet, but residents asked to conserve
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By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
"Thousands have lived without love, not one without water," said W. H. Auden.
It is hoped that Nephi residents don't have to find out what it is like to try to live without water in the coming summer months because water conditions, while not critical, are certainly lower than they have been in the past.
A lot depends on how residents step up in conserving water and how many storms the area receives.
"In checking with the water department today," said Mark Jones, mayor, "I learned that there is going to be a critical need for water conservation."
In utility bills, said Jones, all city residents had received the city's water restrictions notice.
"Please remember that city ordinance prohibits outdoor watering between the hours of 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.," reads that restriction notice. "This ordinance governs the use of both culinary and irrigation water, is not seasonal or temporary and remains in effect today."
The notice goes on to request that city residents use water resources wisely and refrain from outdoor watering during those hours when such watering is inefficient.
Jones said that the city did thank its residents and businesses for their cooperation in wisely using water resources.
"The city has completed several projects that have improved the reliability of the water delivery systems as well as the summer-time taste of the drinking water," said Jones.
Violation of the time-of-day watering restrictions is a Class C misdemeanor and is punishable by a fine of up to $750.
"Our springs are producing 100 gallons a minute which is down considerably from one year ago," said Jones. "We are currently pumping a well at 2,000 gallons per minute."
The Jones Well, which is generally pumped to fill the irrigation pond, is being pumped.
But the city is also now pumping the Equipment Shed Well, which generally is pumped into the blue storage tank, to supplement the spring flows for culinary purposes.
The city did not usually have to rely on well water. At that rate it was now being pumped until June or July, said Jones.
Don Ball, who does weather reports, said that there was only 45 percent moisture in the snow pack this year.
"We are not in an emergency situation right now but, without a storm, we could be," said Jones.
"Some people water just because they can," he said.
He said that the citizens of the community needed to consider use of water in line with conservation needs.
"We strive to drink spring water and use well water for irrigation needs," said Jones.
A challenge came in years when there was low snowpack and when the springs did not produce adequate amounts of water.
Jones said that the city needed to publicize the need for conservation and may have to resort to policing watering times violations. They may also need to discuss, as a council, other ways to conserve water.
Ball said that the city also needed to consider better conservation methods. For example, last summer during a rain storm, the automatic lawn sprinklers were still going at the Pink School Park. Someone in city government should have been checking the timers and setting them so they did not go off automatically when they were not needed.
Jones agreed that the city also needed to make certain that they were following conservation methods and needed to make certain that the sprinklers were shut-off when not needed.
"The only exceptions listed in the ordinance are the watering of newly-planted grass, short cycles necessary for inspecting and maintaining irrigation systems and other situations specifically authorized by Nephi City.
Nephi is not the only area concerned with water conservation, said Jones. Due to recently reported low snowpack and water supply projections, Governor Gary R. Herbert is encouraging Utahns to conserve water heading into the spring and summer months. The governor met recently with water supply experts from the Department of Natural Resources to get an update on current water supply conditions.
"With the dry winter we had we all need to do our part to conserve," said Governor Herbert. "We need to be in conservation mode, but not crisis mode. We can do a great deal to help our situation by implementing conservation strategies during the spring and summer months."
He said that, despite being the second driest state in the nation, effective reservoir planning and conservation have resulted in a reasonably consistent water supply.
Herbert also emphasized the importance of proactive initiatives to get out in front of the state's water challenges, like drought and expected population increases over the next several years. Approximately two years ago, the governor created a Water Strategy Advisory Team. This diverse team was directed to produce a 50-year water strategy plan. The plan is anticipated to be complete at the end of 2015.
Governor Herbert has directed his Office of Management and Budget (GOMB) to work collaboratively with the Water Resources Advisory Team, applicable state agencies, legislators, local governments, water districts, and conservation groups to gather and assess water-related information. The goal is to ensure the state meets its future infrastructure needs, while allowing market forces to better signal the value of water.
Utahns can find tips on water conservation strategies by visiting slowtheflow.org, conservewater.utah.gov and http://slowtheflow.org/index.php/lawn-watering-guide.
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