Washington City warns of historic low snowpack, outlines conservation and regional reuse plan

Mayor Chris Staley told residents that Washington City is facing “its lowest water year on record since 1895,” and urged continued conservation while the city advances a regional reuse and purification project.

Staley said the city is at about 27% of median snowpack this season but added that local reservoirs remain relatively full, giving the city time to prepare for summer. He credited residents with large reductions in residential water use and noted a new municipal landscape conservation ordinance that sets a lower target for average residential consumption of 0.59 acre-feet per year.

The mayor said the next phase of local water planning is a regional reuse and purification system, being developed with municipalities and the Washington County Water Conservancy District. “It is projected to produce 24,000 acre feet of water per year by 2042. That's enough to serve 40,000 homes,” Staley said.

Staley outlined voluntary and incentive programs the city uses to reduce outdoor irrigation, including a rebate of up to $2 per square foot for turf removed and replaced with water-efficient landscaping. He also said more than 2,000,000 square feet of grass has been removed in Washington County to date, which he said accounts for about 30% of statewide turf replacement while the county represents roughly 7% of Utah’s population.

On day-to-day conservation, Staley urged residents to reduce unnecessary irrigation and to “turn your sprinklers off in the winter, and don't overwater during the other seasons.” He described recent trips to study reuse technology — including a visit to San Diego — and said Washington City is adopting best practices from other municipalities.

The mayor did not announce new mandatory restrictions at the address but stressed vigilance and support for ongoing projects to secure long-term local water supply.