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Bluffdale staff present water‑element update to meet new state requirements; focus on outdoor conservation
Summary
City staff said Bluffdale already meets most state water‑element requirements and proposed targeted conservation measures — including focused outreach, possible tier‑rate adjustments and turf restrictions in some zones — while Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District confirmed adequate supply to build‑out if conservation trends continue.
City staff presented the required update to Bluffdale’s water element on Nov. 12 to align with 2022–23 state bills. Caitlin and Dan summarized consultations with Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District and the Division of Water Resources and said most state requirements were already addressed in Bluffdale’s 2021 water conservation plan; the current update fills remaining items.
Staff reported the city’s culinary water system serves about 5,400 connections and uses roughly 1.1 billion gallons annually, with residential connections accounting for about 75% of total volume. Dan highlighted that a small subset of customers — the top 2% — consume a disproportionate share of water and said targeted outreach and leak detection are effective tools. The city has metered nearly all residential meters for near‑real‑time monitoring (about 98% with transmitters) and uses a system that alerts public works to unusual consumption.
Options discussed included adopting a low‑flow indoor plumbing fixture requirement (Planning Commission was not supportive, noting most use is outdoor), prohibiting turf in commercial/industrial zones (city standards already limit turf to 15% of the area), and increasing tier 3/4 water rates to incentivize conservation. Planning Commission favored raising higher‑tier rates if additional revenue were reinvested in conservation incentives and programs.
Jordan Valley Water staff said they can provide water to Bluffdale to planned build‑out levels so long as conservation practices are maintained, but flagged that very large annexations or water‑intensive projects may require dedicated sources. Staff also noted work to meter and account for secondary (irrigation) water is ongoing and that current secondary metering is incomplete, limiting visibility into regional irrigation use.
Council discussion emphasized education/outreach (seasonal watering guidance, mailers to adjacent residents) and a measured approach to regulatory changes. Staff said the draft element will return to council for adoption in December to meet the state’s December 31 deadline.
