A record-low snowpack along the Wasatch Front this winter and spring has put the focus on summer water supplies and the need for conservation.

This comes as no surprise as Utah is stuck—with the exception of a couple of wet seasons—in a years-long below-average dry spell, with 59% of the state in a “severe drought” right now, according to officials.

Area water districts are urging residents and businesses to slow the flow even more than usual, especially for outdoor watering.

The Magna Water District, which serves 35,000 customers in northwestern West Valley City and Magna, has issued the same message. However, MWD—one of the three water purveyors that serve the vast majority of West Valley City—has an advantage in its supply: secondary water.

Secondary water is minimally treated non-potable water that is delivered through separate lines for outdoor watering and irrigation. It helps conserve the typically more expensive treated culinary water for drinking, cooking, bathing and other indoor purposes.

“It’s been important since we started the system,” said Clint Dilley, general manager of Magna Water District, of the secondary water. “It’s become a more substantial part of our deliveries.” 

Dilley said about a third of the water delivered to customers is secondary water, keeping culinary water away from lawns, gardens and other outdoor uses. Secondary water comes to MWD through canals that carry water from Utah Lake and the Jordan River. Also, a large quantity of culinary water that goes down households drains returns to MWD where it is filtered and treated just enough at the agency’s wastewater treatment plan to be reused for irrigation needs. It is referred to as reuse water. “The drought really doesn’t affect this irrigation water because the supply is essentially already there,” Dilley said.

Dilley said MWD’s basic secondary water infrastructure was laid starting in 2004. It has been expanded to cover new development since then. Customers receiving the nonculinary water for outside use generally pay about one-third less overall for their water bills than those who have to use drinking water for their indoor and outdoor needs.

Kearns Improvement District and Granger-Hunter Improvement District, the other major water providers serving West Valley City, do not have secondary water systems in place.

Kearns general manager Greg Anderson appealed to his agency’s 14,500 customers to conserve the precious resource.  “We are asking all residents to take immediate conservation measures. Specifically, we request that you do not begin outdoor watering until May 15. After that date, please limit watering to no more than two times per week, and only during the hours of 8 p.m. to 8 a.m.” he wrote in a message included in billing notices. “A variety of helpful conservation tools and resources are available on our website at www.kidwater4ut.gov/. We invite you to review these tools and incorporate them into your daily water use.”

Likewise, Granger-Hunter Improvement District, which delivers water to central and eastern West Valley City, is pushing a 10% reduction in water consumption among its 28,000 households and businesses, as it has no secondary water system. “This year is different,” said general manager Jason Helm of the intensifying drought. Customers can explore “waterwise rebate programs through Slow the Flow (slowtheflow.org) and additional conservation tips” at ghid.gov, according to a statement from the district.

Despite the availability of secondary and reuse water, Magna Water District is encouraging conservation efforts including a voluntary 10% reduction in water use this season, or what the district refers to as “level one” conservation. More stringent mandatory measures are an option if needed as the summer wears on.

Ideas and incentives for reducing and removing lawns and other thirsty landscaping can be found at utahwatersavers.com.