The Santaquin City Council on Dec. 2 unanimously adopted an ordinance adding a water‑use element to the city’s general plan, a state‑required update that consolidates recent conservation ordinances and outlines future water needs.

City planning staff said the element was prepared with a $20,000 state grant and is intended to document current water usage, identify conservation opportunities and show the city is meeting state planning requirements. Staff emphasized that the largest projected gap at build‑out is for outdoor and pressurized irrigation demand rather than indoor culinary supply.

The plan includes suggested measures already used by the city, such as restrictions on turf in narrow planting strips, public outreach strategies and guidance for future water sources. Staff also noted the city is planning for redundancy, including work on a second well and associated water rights. Council members asked about the state’s water‑rights adjudication process; staff said that is handled at the state level and estimated the adjudication work in the region would likely begin in the mid‑to‑late 2020s (staff cited a potential 2027 timeframe) and that local claims would be filed when notices arrive.

A council member moved to adopt the ordinance; the motion was seconded and passed in a roll‑call vote. The ordinance establishes the policy language but does not itself appropriate funds; future budgeting decisions for wells or capital work would come to the council separately.