State urges Utahns to avoid watering until May, report misuse

SALT LAKE CITY — State leaders and water watchers have already been calling on Utahns to conserve after a record-breaking low snowpack.

Now, in only mid-April, neighbor complaints are already starting to surface as some people and community developments begin to water their lawns.

"We don't want to be too shame-y about people, but we also want to recognize that we don't need to water right now," said Michael Sanchez, public information officer with the Utah Division of Water Resources.

He said the division is advising residents in most areas of the state to wait to start watering until May 15.

"We're really in that time of year where we can conserve a lot, and during those 'shoulder' seasons is really where we can see a big benefit," Sanchez said.

He said the state wanted to hear about water misuse through a waste reporting tool on the division's conservation website. He said while the division would not be an enforcer, it would forward the information to the proper municipality for further follow-up or action.

"We're really trying to get a handle on everything and making sure we conserve enough water to make it through this year," Sanchez said.

The conservation message seemed to be resonating already with residents in Bountiful, where Melissa Mills was weeding Wednesday evening with her two kids.

"We've had a dry winter," Mills explained to her daughter.

She said the lack of water had already been a topic in her home.

"It's not really necessary to water right now," she said. "Just pull the weeds so they don't kill."

Scott Miller said he recently made a timely pivot to xeriscaping.

"The yard died a year ago, and so I decided to xeriscape it, which is fortunate because this year we're not going to have any water," Miller said. "Now, I'm trying to get all the weeds out and put a weed barrier down, and once the barrier is down, I'm going to go get some bark and put it over the top of it."

He hoped for his plants and for others' yards that the weather would remain moderate and that Utah would receive ample moisture.

"I hope we get a lot of rain between now and May 15," he said.

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