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UTAH WATER CONSERVATION A guide to mindful water use in the nation’s second driest state ---PAGE BREAK--- UTAH DROUGHT A semi-arid state, Utah has experienced frequent periods of drought. However, 2021 stands out as a year of acute drought conditions, with an average of 97% of Utah experiencing severe drought conditions as of April. Severe drought is used to define an area where crop or pasture losses are likely, fire risk is very high, water shortages are common, and water restrictions may be considered. Considering these extreme circumstances, Governor Cox issued a state of emergency, deeming water conservation as critical “I ASK UTAHNS TO EVALUATE THEIR WATER USE AND FIND WAYS TO SAVE NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF THE CURRENT DROUGH CONDITIONS BUT ALSO BECAUSE WE LIVE IN ONE OF THE DRIEST STATES IN THE NATION.” -GOVERNOR COX Conserving water is a good sustainabilty practice year-round, but especially during drought warnings. The good news? It doesn’t have to be complicated. In this guide, we break down water conservation into three simple strategies: landscaping landscaping, , household household, and , and hygiene hygiene. ---PAGE BREAK--- LANDSCAPING Keep Grass 2-3 Inches Use a 2-3 inch clipping guide when mowing your lawn. This height allows grass blades to shield one another, as well as to take deeper root, decreasing water needs. Water Before 8:00 a.m. and After 8:00 p.m. Set your sprinklers to water before 8:00 a.m. and after 8:00 p.m. Avoiding peak temperatures throughout the day will reduce the amount of water lost to evaporation. Utilize Mulch Supplement landscaping beds with organic mulches such as straw or pine needles to assist in water retention. Select Water Wise Plants Utilize drought-tolerant, native species for landscaping. These plants require less irrigation and can withstand dry periods. Collect Rainwater Utilize rainbarrels to harvest excess water from your downspouts after storms. Excess water can then be utilized for landscape irrigation. Remove Weeds Pull weeds from landscaping beds to allow irrigation to more freely reach other plants. Reduce Fertilizer Use Limit fertilizer use or select iron-based fertilizer products for your landscaping needs. Excess fertilizer creates increased water demand. Cover Pools and Spas Add a cover to your pool or spa to reduce evaporation, thus eliminating the need for frequent refills with your garden hose. ---PAGE BREAK--- HOUSEHOLD Scrape Dishes Rather than rinsing food off dishes, scrape off the excess with a spatula or dish scraper, composting scraps when possible. Utilize Basins for Handwashing Dishes When washing dishes by hand, fill up one side of the sink with sudsy water, and the other side with clean rinse water. This reduces the amount of wasted water from leaving the tap on to wash and rinse. Add Meatless Mondays Prepare meatless dinners once or more throughout the week. Meat production uses sig nificantly more water than grain or vegetable production. Car Wash Wash your car near a landscaped area to allow excess water to benefit nearby plants. Al ternatively, visit a local car wash business. These businesses are required by law to recycle water between customers. Run Full Loads Only run your dishwasher and laundry machine when cleaning a full load. Partial loads waste water. Utilize a Water Pitcher Keep a pitcher of cold water in the fridge to reduce water wasted while waiting for the tap to turn cold. Instant Water Heater Install an instant water heater beneath your sinks to deliver readily available hot water. Locate Master Water Switch Be prepared with the location of your master water switch so that you can turn off water service in the event of a pipe burst to avoid wasted water and property damage. ---PAGE BREAK--- HYGIENE Reduce Shower Time Reduce your shower time by one minute, or even better-- limit showers to five minutes for added impact. Turn off the Tap While washing your face, washing your hands, or brushing your teeth, turn off the tap. Mindlessly allowing the tap to run wastes gallons each year. Low Flow Appliances Switch bathroom applicances to low flow sink, showerhead, and toilet models to reduce bathroom water use. Wash Sparingly Rather than washing clothes after each wear, only do laundry when clothes are heavily soiled or stained, opting for spot-cleaning between washes when possible. Add Aerators If switching to an entirely new low-flow model isn’t feasible, adding aerators to faucets can reduce water use by mixing the droplets with air for a spray effect. Utilize a Waste Basket Discard tissues and cotton balls in a waste basket rather than flushing them down the toilet. Use a Rinse Cup In lieu of rinsing your razor in a stream of running water, fill a small cup with warm water and swish the blade in between strokes. Shower Cold Cold showers reduce water consumption by eliminating the water wasted while waiting for the stream to heat up. ---PAGE BREAK--- ADDITIONAL RESOURCES National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) www.drought.gov/states/utah Explore data and maps related to droughts, learn about drought impacts, and check local conditions. Utah Division of Water Resources www.water.utah.gov Learn about water challenges specific to Utah, review proposed and in- progress water projects, and research more water conservation tips. Slow the Flow www.slowtheflow.org Find resources for waterwise planting, rebates, audits, and other conservation tools. Salt Lake City Public Utilities www.slc.gov/utilities/conservation/drought-information Learn about Utah’s drought history, view tips for preparing for a water shortage, and explore additional conservation resources. Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District Learn about water conservation workshops, local conservation gardens, and conservation consultations.