Centerville council adopts water-use and preservation element to meet state deadline
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Summary
Centerville approved Ordinance 2025-15 to add a state-required water use and preservation element to its general plan, a move staff said aligns the city's five-year water conservation plan with Utah Senate Bill 110 (2022). The ordinance passed 5–0.
Centerville’s City Council on Nov. 18 voted to adopt a water use and preservation element into the city's general plan to comply with a 2022 state law requiring municipalities to add such an element by Dec. 31, 2025. The ordinance (2025-15) passed by voice vote, with the mayor announcing “the motion passes 5 nothing.”
Mike Eggert, Centerville’s community development director, told the council the change responds to Utah Senate Bill 110 and noted the statutory timeline: “Requires Utah municipalities and all counties to integrate a water use and preservation element into their general plan by 12/31/2025.” He later clarified, “I meant required. It's requirement by state.”
The ordinance adds a water-demand assessment, strategies to reduce demand, conservation encouragement and operational-efficiency measures. Eggert said the proposal is intended to dovetail with the city’s existing water conservation plan and cited Utah code sections that frame the requirement.
Several council members sought clearer drafting and more-local language before final adoption. Councilor Brian Plummer said he had reservations about a passage that appears to adopt the Weber Basin Water Conservancy District’s conservation goals directly into the general plan and asked for the language to say the city’s zoning code contains conservation goals “consistent with” Weber Basin rather than a blanket adoption. Eggert and other staff said the state Division of Natural Resources had reviewed the draft and stated it is compliant.
Eggert and staff emphasized the city will continue routine five-year reviews of its water conservation plan; Eggert noted the earlier plan was approved in 2014 and updated most recently in December 2021. The council approved the ordinance 5–0 and directed staff to make the modest wording adjustments discussed so the general plan language reads in Centerville-centric terms.
What happens next: The city will publish the adopted general plan amendment and follow up in future planning cycles and the five-year water conservation plan review scheduled in 2026.
