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Council urged to adopt water-wise ordinances as Weaver Basin warns of low runoff; rebate programs explained
Summary
Staff presented a low-runoff outlook for Weber/Weaver Basin and recommended a 20% outdoor watering reduction (May 15 start, Sept 15 end this year). The presentation also explained landscape-lawn-exchange rebates: local residents qualify for $125 now; higher $250 incentives require city adoption of water-wise ordinances.
A city presenter briefed the council on Weaver Basin’s snowpack and runoff forecasts and urged preparation for reduced supplies and stronger conservation. The presenter summarized basin data showing substantially below-average runoff projections and said, "We're going to ask for a 20% reduction and start the system loading in May 1st but waiting until May 15th water and then a system shutdown of October 1st ... approved was September 15th is the end of the water season this year with all of the 20% reductions." (staff paraphrase)
The presenter described incentives to reduce outdoor water use: a $100 smart-controller rebate, low-flow toilet rebates, and the state-backed landscape-lawn-exchange program (previously 'flip your strip'). Staff noted the district has spent more than $800,000 on the flip-your-strip program and Leighton City residents have used a large portion of that funding; the landscape-lawn-exchange is funded at a state level and provides $125 for cities without required water-wise ordinances and $250 for cities that adopt those ordinances.
Council members discussed ordinance options. Staff said the higher $250 incentive requires adopting water-wise landscaping rules for new single-family construction (limits on narrow lawn strips, front-yard-lawn caps, park-strip restrictions, tree-planting requirements and minimum plant coverage). Council members generally supported bringing back draft ordinance language and asked staff to explain how new-construction triggers and hardship exceptions would work. Staff cautioned the programs are voluntary for existing homes, that applicants must remove living turf and replace it with approved planted materials (minimum project sizes apply), and that artificial turf or impervious surfaces do not qualify.
Next steps: staff will draft ordinance language and return with implementation impacts and eligibility details for council consideration. The presenter also noted the city must plan secondary-metering implementation by 2030 and that monthly consumption reporting will begin to support meter-based billing.
