Bountiful council adopts temporary restrictions on outdoor culinary watering to protect aquifer

The Bountiful City Council voted July 22 to adopt a temporary set of watering restrictions on outdoor use of the city's culinary water supply aimed at protecting reservoirs and aquifers and preserving capacity for domestic use and fire protection.

City staff told the council that recent demands have outpaced local supplies: treatment-plant output has fallen from about 1,400 gallons per minute to roughly 800 gpm in the past several weeks, one rehabilitated local well produces about 800 gpm and a smaller well about 250 gpm, and June 2025 culinary consumption was 16.6% higher than the six-year average. The staff recommendation, approved by the council, calls for restrictions in effect July 31, 2025, through April 15, 2026.

The resolution limits outdoor use of culinary water for irrigation or other outdoor purposes where third-party irrigation water is available, prohibits outdoor culinary watering between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., establishes a three-times-per-week watering schedule for residential properties that use culinary water (amendment added on the floor to clarify that the three-times-per-week rule applies to properties that use culinary water), allows limited hand-watering for established trees and shrubs, and exempts necessary watering of high-priority public areas and occasional spot watering at city properties to prevent permanent turf damage. The resolution also includes tiered enforcement: a warning on first offense, $100 for a second offense, $250 for a third offense, $500 for a fourth, and $1,000 for a fifth; fines are assessed to the utility bill and continued nonpayment can lead to service termination.

The council debated communication and enforcement during the meeting. Several council members urged clear, simple public messaging and maps to show which parcels use culinary water. Staff said outreach plans would include the city website, social media, and door-hanger handouts to households that rely on culinary water for irrigation. Council members asked city staff to coordinate with neighboring special service districts and Bountiful Irrigation, though trustees from those entities said they currently had no plans to adopt matching restrictions because they rely on different supplies and authority comes from their own governing boards.

Public comment at the start of the meeting cited aquifer concerns that paralleled staff's presentation. Ron Mortensen, chair of the South Davis Water District, told the council that studies show about 40% of the South Davis aquifer recharge in the area comes from imported Weber water applied to lawns and that widespread conservation could reduce recharge; he urged coordinated regional action.

Council members amended the staff-drafted language to add an explicit clause in the watering schedule clarifying that the three-times-per-week allowance applies to residential properties that use culinary water. The council then voted to approve the proclamation and the modified resolution. Council members voted in favor with no recorded opposition.

The restrictions are intended as a temporary emergency measure to maintain reservoir and pump availability for domestic and fire-protection needs while staff continue to monitor aquifer levels and system performance. Staff told the council revenue from metered outdoor use will decline while the measures are in place, and enforcement will be administered through the water, engineering and planning departments.

The council directed staff to begin public outreach immediately and to continue coordination with South Davis Water District, Bountiful Irrigation and Weber Basin where feasible.