Ogden residents, businesses asked to cut water usage


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OGDEN — The city of Ogden is bracing itself for the possibility of a water shortage. So, it has gone into the second phase of its Water Shortage Management Plan.

As part of phase two of the city's plan, government agencies are required to cut their water usage by 15 to 20 percent. The Ogden Water Utilities manager, Kenton Moffett, said the Pineview Reservoir is Ogden's main water source and currently sits at 34 percent.

Water restrictions are not yet mandatory for residents or business owners, but city officials are asking everyone to lower their water usage about 20 percent.

"If they water for 25 minutes, we'd ask them to take that timer down about five minutes," said Ogden City Public Works Deputy Director Justin Anderson.

He said the city is trying to stay ahead of any potential shortage next year, and that means everyone needs to conserve.

"(The reservoirs) are low right now, but really what we're planning for is next year because we don't know what kind of snowpack we're going to get this year," Moffett said.

Secondary water suppliers could make restrictions, but when that happens, Anderson said they'll see a spike in the use of culinary water.

He added that a lot of snow is needed this winter to prevent even tighter restrictions next year.

"We're hopeful we have a great snowpack, but we want to plan in case we don't," Anderson said.

The next phase of the Water Shortage Management Plan could include mandatory water regulations.

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