Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Water Conservation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Ivins adopts optional ultra‑efficient water resolution, schedules public hearing on regional conservation plan
Summary
Council voted to encourage builders to adopt an ultra water‑efficient standard and set a public hearing for Oct. 16 on a regional water conservation plan; staff described local water shortages and an AMI meter procurement process.
Ivins City Council on Thursday approved a resolution encouraging developers to use an optional “Ultra Water Efficient” standard promoted by the Washington County Water Conservancy District and scheduled a public hearing Oct. 16 on a district‑prepared regional water conservation plan.
The council voted to approve Resolution No. 2025‑16R, an encouragement (not a mandate) for developers to voluntarily design homes and subdivisions to a 0.39 acre‑foot average annual water use standard, Washington County conservation manager Doug Bennett told the council. Bennett said new ultra‑efficient designs typically eliminate private swimming pools and irrigated lawns and rely on smaller lots, shared community open space and other measures to reduce per‑home demand.
Mayor Chris Hart and council members said the item is voluntary and administered through the water district; approval reduces developer impact fees when the district accepts the ultra‑efficient design. Councilmember Barton noted Ivins’ historically low average per‑household water use, but Bennett said the 0.39 figure is measured at the home and the district must account for conveyance losses at the source.
The council also agreed to set a public hearing for Oct. 16 on Resolution No. 2025‑17R, the joint regional water conservation plan prepared by the district. Staff said the district plan, if adopted after required notice and hearing, would satisfy the state’s requirement for a municipal conservation plan and allow Ivins to participate in regional reporting rather than submit a separate plan.
Public works and engineering staff updated the council on related operational issues: the Water Shortage Task Force is moving away from county‑wide automatic triggers to a city‑by‑city water budget approach; Ivins’ per‑household average is already well below some county averages, which may give the city flexibility if shortage stages are declared. Staff also told council that eight proposals were received for an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) program; engineers plan to shortlist vendors, request on‑site presentations and bring a scored recommendation to a future council work session.
On the ultra‑efficiency resolution, Councilmember Barton moved approval; the motion passed by roll call (Aye votes recorded from members present). The public hearing on the conservation plan was scheduled with the class‑A notice period required by state statute.
