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State officials warn population growth and climate trends will raise future water demand
Summary
Presenters said Utah’s population could grow from about 3.6 million to about 5.6 million by 2065 and reviewed modeled demand scenarios showing much higher demand in a no‑change case; the presentation emphasized conservation and efficiency to limit future shortages.
State water planners told attendees that sustained population growth combined with warming temperatures will substantially alter future water demand and availability. "Our population is projected to increase from about 3,600,000 people today to approximately 5,600,000 people by 2065," Stephanie McGinnis said, calling that a more than 50% increase and a primary driver for planning.
McGinnis described two modeled municipal and industrial (M&I) demand scenarios: a 'no change' scenario that assumes current practices continue and a 'current trends' scenario that assumes continued gains in conservation and efficiency. "Under the no change scenario, demand will be much greater in the future than under the current trend scenario," she said, arguing the results underscore the need to scale up conservation and efficiency measures to reduce the chance of future shortages.
The presentation noted that modeled outcomes depend on where growth occurs, local land‑use decisions and water‑right transactions; McGinnis urged communities to use the plan’s basin-level data to inform local planning.
