- Utah cities, including Midvale, urge residents to conserve water amid drought.
- Midvale is implementing a 25% surcharge for heavy water users starting May 1.
- Residents are encouraged to limit outdoor watering to twice weekly, prioritizing plants.
MIDVALE — As Utah cities grapple with how to conserve water amid ongoing drought, local water districts and the municipalities they serve are doubling down on their messaging to the public to limit usage.
For some residents, that message may come in the form of a more expensive water bill.
The Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District, along with more than a dozen cities and agencies it serves, declared a severe water availability level due to low snowpack and Utah's record-dry winter.
Communities are being called on to reduce indoor and outdoor water use by 10% to help protect the current water supply and keep reservoirs from dropping much lower. The water district is asking homeowners, businesses and government agencies to delay outdoor watering until May 15.
Midvale, one of the cities the water district serves, is echoing the request — and beginning May 1, it will tack on a 25% "drought surcharge" for heavy water users, leaders announced in a city newsletter issued last week.
The city's base monthly water rate of approximately $30 will remain the same, according to Mayor Dustin Gettel.
"What the surcharge is attempting to do is to promote water conservation," he said.
Midvale uses a tiered water rate system; residents who stay within the lowest tier — roughly 12,000 gallons or less per month — likely won't see much of an impact on their bill.
Gettel said at this point, the city is not enforcing any mandatory water restrictions on residents, but leaders and water managers hope they'll consider the water scarcity and make adjustments to how and when they consume water.
"We didn't want to take, you know, an authoritarian (approach) where we're going to be out with our code enforcement and Unified police officers monitoring your water. We want people to make the decisions that are right for them," he told KSL.
Garna Mejia, KSLMidvale took similar measures at the water district's direction during another drier-than-normal year in 2022. That effort led to a 20% reduction in water consumption among households and businesses — and a 12% decrease overall throughout the Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District, according to city staff notes from Midvale City Council's April 21 meeting.
"The fact that folks don't necessarily remember that we did it four years ago means that it probably didn't have a huge impact on their monthly bill," said Gettel. "If people are starting to see $50, $60 higher bills, then we'd definitely hear about it, and that's what we're trying to avoid."
Midvale residents are asked to limit outdoor water use to no more than two days per week and to prioritize trees, plants and gardens over lawns.
The city is also taking its own advice and will not begin routine watering until May 15 — though sod at the cemetery may be watered as needed. Other high-activity areas, such as sports fields and functional turfs, may receive some watering for safety and to remain usable.
Midvale is just one of several Utah cities issuing water conservation notices.
City officials in Riverdale announced Monday that water use restrictions are in place through November.
"On April 13, 2026, Weber Basin Water Conservancy District formally notified Riverdale city of a 20% restriction in our water supply from them and the associated consequences of that," the city said in a Facebook post.
Residents are asked to avoid watering outdoors until May 1, and after that, not to water between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Water rates for usage over 10,000 gallons will also be increased by 25%.
Earlier this month, Woods Cross announced mandatory water restrictions. Residents are urged not to water outdoors before May 15 or after Sept. 15. They may also face penalties for violations of culinary water regulations if caught.
Late last month, Salt Lake City implemented the second stage of its water contingency plan
According to Gettel, the surcharge for water usage is temporary and will be lifted once the water district deems it appropriate, as conditions improve.
"We don't want the surcharge to be around longer than it needs to be," he said. "We just want to do what we can to make sure that we're not in an even bigger problem next year."
Midvale's full water conservation plans are available here.
