OGDEN — Pineview Water Systems, which covers water districts in parts of Weber and Box Elder counties, is warning some 16,000 of its customers that homeowners who use more than 100% of their water allotments for the season will be fined $500 and have their secondary water shut off early. The water will not be turned on again next season until the fine is paid.
General Manager Jeff Humphrey said plans for the fines were in place before Utah's unusually warm winter started to take shape.
"We have a limited resource of water," Humphrey said. "The more population, the growth that we're experiencing, we are going to come short unless people start going to water-wise landscaping."
The letter to homeowners also instructs them on how to set up an online account where they can monitor their water use. In addition, they will get warning letters as they reach 50%, 75% and 90% of their allotments.
"Each property in our district is based on an allocation of property size, and when they hit 100%, they cannot use any more water," Humphrey said.
The move comes as Pineview and many other water management districts around the state are working to quickly install meters for all secondary water users by 2030, as required by a state law passed in 2022.
Many water managers, like Pineview, are running ahead of schedule in reaching that goal.
"Everyone needs to have an education on what these meters are for, (and) how to conserve water moving forward," Humphrey said.
Humphrey adds that there are a number of resources available to help homeowners find ways to better conserve water, including smart watering systems, water-efficient sprinkler heads and Utah's incentives to remove grass from yards and park strips.
