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Curbing Utah’s wasteful water use would erase need for dams

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on June 29, 2008 at 6:46 am

From the Salt Lake Tribune:

While scientists are predicting drastic changes for the water supply in the Colorado River basin, the Wasatch Range can realistically hope for better as our climate warms. If we use our scarce water resources wisely, we should have plenty of water for the rest of this century. Surprised? We’ve known this all along but our habits are hard to break.

With a growing population, we must use common sense and tap the ingenuity of the Beehive State and its industrious worker bees. In supplying a growing population with water, Utah’s water managers have historically applied a one-size-fits-all approach. Limited primarily to an engineering background, they see the solution to water needs as structural, which often proves to be expensive and static. The overwhelming mindset has been that new dams and diversions are the only way to assure our water future. While Utah gives lip service to water conservation as an alternative, it is clear where our priorities lie.

For example, the Utah Division of Water Resources spent nearly $8 million in 2007 to further the Lake Powell Pipeline and Bear River Water Development projects, but it spent a measly $250,000 on water conservation. The numbers speak for themselves.

The argument is one we here in California have heard plenty. By implementing conservation, water can be saved and dams not built. While Californians have made great strides on conservation already, apparently Utah has not, so the argument is particularly relevant, in light of these numbers:

Utah residents use far more water than is necessary or appropriate. Of the 60-70 percent of our water directed toward our lawns and gardens, approximately 50 percent is wasted. Furthermore, our per-capita use is significantly greater than that of other desert cities.

Read more from the Salt Lake Tribune by clicking here.

June 29, 2008 · Filed Under Conservation, Southwest Water Issues

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