Need for Conservation
Water conservation is a crucial topic that needs to become part of our daily activities. Utah is the second driest state in the nation; also it is the second state that consumes the most amount of water after Nevada. Drought conditions and mandatory water restrictions in this year are likely to happen if we do not come together and take action to manage this resource properly.
The Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District provides water to South Jordan as well as other fast-growing cities such as, West Jordan, Riverton, Bluffdale, Draper and Herriman, among others. According to this agency, water demand is projected to double in the next 20 years. Furthermore, South Jordan City records show that water usage in the year of 2006 in comparison to previous years, Figure 1, increased due to a rise in population and new development in the area. However, in this year, it can also be noticed that water usage by the community increased not only during the hottest months (July and August) but it also took place in the early months, Figure 2.
Therefore, the increase in water demand plus the growth in population in the City will bring about the necessity to introduce more rigid water conservation regulations and reclamation of other water sources. New projects such as reclamation of contaminated ground water, conversion of low-quality agricultural water, and importation of water from outside the county will increase the cost of water. Additional costs may also include federal and state water quality fees intended to ensure the quality of water delivered through public water systems, as well as environmental mitigations to sustain endangered species in the area. The replacement of water systems to keep a distribution system viable is another cost to be considered resulting in a 50 percent increment for water costs over the next 10 years. For these reasons, the City of South Jordan encourages all its residents to take action to use water efficiently.
Growth and economic development in Utah is taking place daily, which gives the State and the City of South Jordan the opportunity to become a model of water conservation. Our goal as a community is to conserve and use water the best possible way, and meet the State goal of 25% savings by 2025. It is important to remember that the amount of water being used is increasing, but the water recourses remain the same. We need to learn how to conserve and make our homes water efficient. Water conservation information is available in any of the City's offices, or it can be viewed at http://www.sjc.utah.gov/secondarywater.asp under Water Conservation Pamphlet. This is a guide to effectively help you save money while conserving water in and around your home.
