As the waterline is finished in front of each house, a pipe would be extended to the property line and the owner would be responsible to connect any existing or future sprinkler or irrigation to this line. There would be no cost to connect or for the required initial inspection fee.

For residents who connected to the secondary waterline, monthly water bills would be expected to increase by about $20, although it would not be required. Those who do not connect to the system would not have to pay the the secondary rates.

However, culinary water prices are going up, and the cost to treat water at a plant is rising much faster than current inflation rates, said John Schiess, the consulting engineer on the project. He said that if the city stays dependent on solely culinary water, the average water bill would increase well beyond the rates for a combined culinary and secondary system.

Water sources for the secondary system could include water from the Murdock Canal, American Fork Canyon surface water and CUP water from Jordanelle Reservoir.

If voters do not approve the bond, Thompson said water shortages will occur, growth may be curtailed and rationing measures would have to be taken. He also said that the City Council would take action in another direction to avoid the amplification of the problem in future years.

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E-mail: asnyder@desnews.com