Estimated read time: 1-2 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 Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information.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.
OGDEN – A lush, healthy looking lawn may not be a viable option this year, at least in areas covered by Pineview Water Systems.
General manager Ben Quick said the situation is dire.
"Really, very little runoff made it to the reservoirs," Quick explained. "We're looking at a reservoir filling that is about 17% of normal so far, and I expect that percentage to drop."
Quick said much of the runoff was absorbed due to low soil moisture and warns that water users will need to cut back.
"If they use water at the same rate they did last year, we'll be out of water around the third week of August," Quick said. "But because we have to protect culinary water sources, and we're going to give priority to agricultural land, I'll be shutting off all residential water, first week of August."
Quick said that can change, however, if users of the secondary water system collectively conserve.
"We really can't be watering for any more than twice a week for residential landscapes," Quick said. "You should only be watering for about 20 minutes with traditional pop-ups, or double that for big rotary heads."
Pineview Water Systems serves several cities in Weber County and shares Pineview Reservoir with Weber Water Basin Conservancy District. Levels at the reservoir are already significantly low, leaving large beach areas that would normally be covered up in early June.
"I've been here for almost 20 years, and it's by far the worst I've seen," Quick said.
