Shirilla Wins Again; Three-time Shirilla Wins ... - Backcountry Utah

DWRe. This requirement covers systems that provide water to about 93 percent of
Utah’s population. The Act also stipulates water conservation plans are to be
updated and resubmitted every five years, and non-compliance is to be made public
information.
“Water conservation plans are strongly emphasized as part of the statewide goal of
reducing per capita use by at least 25 percent through 2050. The plans are meeting
their intended goals,” said Dennis Strong, Director of the Division of Water
Resources. “State, municipal and individual water agencies are meeting their
water conservation goals through education and implementation of water-wise
practices and through conservation-minded ordinances.”
West Jordan is one of the communities noted for its multi-faceted plan, which was
submitted three years ago. Management Analyst Stephen Glain says it includes 13
programs, ranging from the creation of a permanent funding mechanism, to a
commercial landscape ordinance, to a toilet replacement program. “We give a
water credit of $50 to people who replace their old toilets with new, low-flow
toilets. So far, we’ve given out several hundred water credits.”
To date, 145 of 151 agencies have submitted water conservation plans and are
compliant with the WCPA. “They are to be commended for establishing
conservation protocol and understanding the demand on their supply systems,”
says Strong. The 96 percent rate of compliance in 2007 is up from 86 percent in
2005 and 72 percent in 2004, but down from 99 percent compliance in 2006.
Contact has been made with all non-compliant agencies, and the DWRe offers
expertise to assist agencies in fulfilling the requirements of the WCPA.
The WCPA has created an increased emphasis on water conservation among
many water providers and a foundation upon which the state can build a successful
water conservation framework. By reaching the goal of reducing the per capita
use, the state will decrease the yearly water demand by more than 130 billion
gallons, which is enough water to fill Jordanelle Reservoir beyond its full storage
capacity, or fill the Energy Solutions Arena floor to ceiling 11,500 times on a
yearly basis.
Since 2000, the state’s residents have achieved a 14 percent reduction in per capita
use.