Moab council reviews draft water conservation plan as city nears 2030 reduction goal

Moab Strategic Initiatives & Sustainability Director Alexi Lamm and Sustainability and Grant Coordinator Val Villeux presented a draft Water Conservation Plan on June 23, telling the City Council the plan is due to the state by mid‑July and that a public hearing is slated for September. Villeux said current culinary water usage is about 269 gallons per capita per day (GPCD), down from 2005 and close to the council's 20% reduction goal for 2030. He also noted that, depending on the baseline used, a target of 250 GPCD could be appropriate rather than the established 267 GPCD.

Councilmembers questioned implementation and enforcement. Councilmember Colin Topper urged regular reporting on shortage status and usage trends; Councilmember Kaitlin Myers pressed staff on enforcement options including warnings and fines and asked how customers would know to reduce mister use by the suggested 15 percent. Mayor Joette Langianese asked staff to prepare code adjustments related to watering hours and hotel laundry practices and supported a public information program to set expectations for residents.

Staff reviewed conservation options in the plan, including voluntary and mandatory measures that would restrict fountains and water features, limit vehicle washing, encourage gray water systems and internal water audits, and explore a wastewater plant retrofit for recycling. A requirement that commercial carwashes use recycled water was discussed but not favored because many local facilities are older. The council did not take a vote; staff will finalize the draft for the mid‑July submission and return for public hearings in September.