According to the Utah Foundation, 63 percent of water used by Utah homes is used outdoors, not in. Conserving water is a relatively easy task once Utahns become aware of where and how to save it. Efforts in educating Utah citizens about conservation, such as the "Slow the Flow, Save H2O" campaign, should continue. According to the state of Utah, if we conserve 25 percent per year by 2050, we would save 400,000-acre-feet per year. The state represents that such water savings is more water than the Jordanelle Reservoir could hold or any other water retention project in Utah. For our future needs, we have done a decent job of planning for our state. In some areas, for example, we have excelled. According to a U.S. Geological Survey cited in a recent Utah Foundation Research Report, Utah ranks No. 1 in the nation in the efficiency of our water delivery system. Most communities in Utah have a long range (10 year) plan to address future water demand. I applaud these efforts and the local leaders behind them. Still, we have large amounts of our portion of the Colorado River appropriation that is due to Utah, but currently untapped. As the water flows unused by Utah through to Nevada and California, Utah loses not only water but substantial revenue.

To help begin to remedy the situation, Utah should lease the water to those states until we have the facilities to use the water. Monies obtained from the leasing could be critical in developing the Lake Powell delivery system to Washington County. We cannot afford to give away water for free when we live in a desert! Counties depend upon the money generated by the 1/16th cent sales tax to fund adequate infrastructure. As a Utah County Commissioner, my running mate, Gary Herbert, has had enough experience in this area to know that this money is put to good use by local communities. Too often in the past, the state has looked to this fund, intended for local governments, as a way to pay off budget shortfalls. As governor, I would commit to county governments that these monies would remain sacrosanct. Water development is too important to our quality of life to put on hold.

An increase in funding for future water development would be wise. Washington County is looking to spend approximately $300 million dollars by 2020 to bring water from Lake Powell. This money could be more easily obtained by allowing water districts more latitude in setting prices. Current law mandates that water districts cannot make a profit from water, which seems fair. But allowing greater wiggle room for water districts to raise prices in anticipation of future needs (like the Washington County example) would encourage conservation, and let market forces exert greater influence in setting prices. It may also avoid tax increases in the future to fund these needs. Municipalities and individual communities should be responsible for establishing their own unique baseline use rates due to the unique nature of each community. The 1/16th-cent sales tax encourages such an approach.