Riverton canals to empty

Utah's drought is being felt statewide as residents are constantly encouraged to cut back or risk losing some water privileges. That risk has become a reality for secondary water users in Riverton.

A letter sent out to residents last week from the city's water director said the city's canals that currently carry water from Utah Lake to Riverton's lawns and gardens will be empty Sept. 1. Some residents are now saying they bought into a water system that has failed because the city continues to allow growth and development in this once-rural southwestern Salt Lake Valley community.

"Why are we building infrastructure and adding more subdivisions if we don't have enough water to support Riverton residents now?" Riverton resident Craig Bird said.

Bird said he pays about $20 per month for his use of the secondary water — water he was told would be available from about April 1 to Oct. 1 each year.

But city manager Mark Cram said the water shortage in general, and the canal closures specifically, are outside the city's control.

The canals are owned by private companies, of which Riverton residents buy shares through the secondary water system. All residents pay at least $4.50 per month for secondary water. Those who have opted to use the non-potable water pay more, depending on the size of their lots — anywhere from $19.43 to $36.58 each month.

Cram said the canal shares were bought through 20-year bonds, so the city has no choice but to continue paying for the canal infrastructure, water or no water.

According to the letter, the city was informed about the canal shutdown on Aug. 12. It says Utah Lake is at an all-time low and the lake's commissioner is cutting by 20 percent the amount of water leaving the lake.

The letter does not specifically encourage residents either to use culinary water for irrigation or to cut back on irrigation, simply saying, "the use of your garden hose for watering is an acceptable alternative; however, this will have a negative impact on our culinary water supply. If you choose to conserve and not use culinary water, your lawn will brown but will come back in the spring when the canals open again."

Cram said he has opted for the latter response.

"I personally am a citizen of Riverton and I choose to let my lawn go brown," he said.

Residents are charged for culinary water based on their use, so irrigating with culinary water will increase their culinary water bills though their secondary water bills will see no reduction.