By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
Adequate water is still a problem this dry season and
Nephi City officials have decided outside water use must be
restricted.
A watering schedule is available at city offices. "We
are having a difficult time keeping the big blue water
storage tank filled," said Randy McKnight, city
administrator. "We are going to have to restrict outside
water use to see if that will help."
McKnight said the tank, at this time of year, would
usually recover overnight but that was not happening.
"We are going to have to go to the same regulation
method Nephi Irrigation Company is using for their secondary
water system," he said. "We will allow watering on alternate
days this summer."
This is the first step in outside watering
restrictions, said McKnight. If the self-monitoring method
doesn't work more severe restrictions will need to be set in
motion.
"We will have to raise water rates and see if the
increased cost in water doesn't act as a dis-incentive to
over-use," he said.
Last year the city council asked Jeff Banks, USU Juab
County Extension Agent, to prepare a list of suggestions for
outside watering as to the best times to water and the best
ways to do that.
The suggestions and schedule are being printed in
today's paper in an ad on the inside and the water schedule
is to become effective immediately.
McKnight said, in an earlier article, the use of water
from Bradley Springs was not explained properly.
Nephi City owns the use of Bradley Springs for five
months of the year. Nephi Irrigation Company owns the use of
the springs for seven months of the year.
Through an exchange agreement, the city is allowed to
use the water year-round. However, city staff must keep
track of the water used and then replace the same amount
from wells the city owns.
The exchange allows the best drinking water to be used
by the city and the less tasty water to be used for
irrigation purposes.
"This allows us to use the higher quality water for
drinking," said McKnight.
The water is not higher quality in safety but in
flavor.
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