- Over 98% of the state remains in drought, and a record-low snowpack could lead to water issues this year.
- Residents are encouraged to conserve water by delaying irrigation and reducing outdoor watering.
- Outdoor watering accounts for vast majority of municipal and industrial water use in Great Salt Lake basin.
SALT LAKE CITY — Friday marked the first day of spring, although, aside from maybe a week or two, it never really felt like Utah had a winter.
Many Utahns have probably already started thinking about gardening or their lawns. Yet, despite Utah's relatively normal precipitation through the water year, which began in October, record warmth could cause all sorts of water headaches this year.
Over 98% of the state is currently in drought, including nearly half in severe or extreme drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. That could worsen soon due to the state's record-low snowpack and a high probability of ongoing above-normal temperatures.
Water providers all across Utah might be forced to enact new water restrictions because of this year's potentially record-low snowpack and increasing drought concerns, Gov. Spencer Cox said Thursday.
Salt Lake City has already opted to do this, reverting to a section of its water shortage plan that calls on government entities within the city's vast system — including many parts of eastern Salt Lake County — to cut their water budgets by 10%. It also calls on residents in the system to cut back where they can, aiming to conserve 30 gallons of water per household per day.
But how does one reduce their watering at home?
Tackling the biggest driver
Agricultural uses still account for most of the water consumed from Utah's water systems, but municipal and industrial use is slowly catching up. Total water consumption within the Great Salt Lake basin increased approximately 250,000 acre-feet in 1989 to over 400,000 acre-feet in 2024, researchers from the Great Salt Lake Strike Team pointed out in a report earlier this year.
While the team — a mix of researchers and experts from state universities and agencies — acknowledged that water use per capita is down with the region's growth, they also noted that outdoor watering remains a major concern. In 2024, approximately 97% of the water in cities went toward outdoor watering, the same as about a quarter of all agricultural consumption.
The best way to save water now is to turn off the sprinklers, says Cynthia Bee, director of community engagement at Utah Water Ways and a sustainable landscapes expert with Utah's Slow the Flow program.
"Starting irrigation too early can actually weaken plants," she said. "Delaying irrigation encourages plants to develop deeper root systems, which helps them withstand hotter and drier conditions later in the season."
Utah's Division of Water Resources maintains a weekly lawn watering guide that advises residents across the state on when to water. Despite late-spring and early-summerlike temperatures, the agency says residents in all but Washington County don't need to worry about watering right now.
Conservation can be as easy as waiting an extra day to water, adds Stephanie Duer, water conservation manager for Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities. If you typically water every day, maybe consider doing it every other day. If you water every other day, perhaps do it every three days, and so forth.
"Your lawn is not going to die in a day. Add a day in your watering schedule, and that will make a world of difference," she said. "You're not going to see the impact in your landscape. You will notice that your water bill probably goes down a bit."
Other outdoor water tips
Cynthia Bee and Stephanie Duer recommend a few other outdoor tips that can reduce outdoor watering:
- Switch to drip irrigation: Swapping traditional spray irrigation with drip irrigation in planting beds can drastically reduce water use and improve plant health, since it can deliver water directly to the soil near a plant's roots. It can also reduce evaporative loss and reduce weed growth.
- Maximize mulch: Applying 3 to 4 inches of mulch in planting beds can reduce moisture loss and regulate soil temperatures while suppressing weeds that compete for water and nutrients.
- Consider waterwise landscaping: Consider replacing small lawn areas and park strips with seating spaces or drought-tolerant plants that can handle Utah's unpredictable weather patterns.
- Take advantage of incentives and programs: The state offers rebates for smart irrigation controllers. Some communities also offer additional incentives or even programs that can help. Many Salt Lake County water users, including government agencies and homeowner associations, can receive a free evaluation from trained landscape auditors that can help people improve watering efficiency.
What about indoors?
While outdoor watering is the top consumer, improving indoor watering is also important. Turning off the tap when you're not actively using water and fixing leaks are often the easiest ways to reduce water use in the home, Duer said.
Slow The Flow also recommends taking five-minute showers, or less, and holding off on running any washing machines or dishwashers until there's a full load, among other indoor watering tips. The state also offers rebates for replacing old toilets with high-efficiency ones.
All these can help in years like this. While water consumption has risen in recent years, Duer is optimistic that Utahns will respond as they did during the last severe drought, which lasted from 2020 through early 2023.
"When we put out these calls, people really respond," she said, adding that overall consumption is still down drastically from a few decades ago. "I have a lot of faith in our community that we'll make it through this. We'll learn some things, we'll get better at that and get more resilient."
