Water officials urge residents to limit lawn watering


Save Story
Leer en espaƱol

Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes

This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.

SALT LAKE CITY -- Despite the wet weather, water managers are advising residents not to water their lawns unnecessarily.

Most lawns are doing just fine right now with all the water nature has provided. But after hearing reports of people watering lawns already, state officials are issuing an important message: the wet weather is not an excuse to waste water.

The good water year has perked up lawns, flowers and gardens. Reservoirs are spilling water because they're too full to handle the runoff. But that does not mean long-term worries over water supply have been resolved.


Water conservation is about a long-term ethic. You should still be watering to what your landscape actually needs, not based on how much supply there is up in the mountains.

–Eric Klotz


Some water districts are already asking residents to limit daytime watering.

"Water conservation is about a long-term ethic," said Eric Klotz, water conservation chief with the Utah Department of Natural Resources. "You should still be watering to what your landscape actually needs, not based on how much supply there is up in the mountains."

Homeowners and gardeners we spoke with don't seem to need the reminder. They haven't started watering yet and don't expect to anytime soon.

"Water one year doesn't mean that we're going to have a lot of water," said Salt Lake City resident Georgina Milne. "We live in a high desert with very little water, so it's important to keep that in mind for the long term."

Penelope Hebrew agrees. "I don't think we ever have water to burn. I really don't. I think water is a fantastic natural resource and we all need to conserve," she said.

It's a good year to make your lawn healthier by training it go after water deep in the soil. "The roots will go down and get it if you give them a reason to go down there and get it," said Klotz. "If you start watering, the roots won't go deep."

Some people have argued if we don't use all the extra water, it will go to waste. Klotz disagrees.

"It goes to the Great Salt Lake, and some people might consider that a waste, but that is a very unique ecosystem and also a very important part of our environment," he said.

There's also a financial incentive to lay off on the watering. State officials say the average homeowner saves about $5 every time they skip a watering.

Email: hollenhorst@ksl.com

Related stories

Most recent Utah stories

Related topics

Utah
John Hollenhorst

    STAY IN THE KNOW

    Get informative articles and interesting stories delivered to your inbox weekly. Subscribe to the KSL.com Trending 5.
    By subscribing, you acknowledge and agree to KSL.com's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

    KSL Weather Forecast