Do we really need all this Kentucky blue grass? I'm not saying we give up on turf completely, but we could all be a lot smarter about how we landscape our yards and how we use outdoor water. Shouldn't people who insist on the football field-size lawns have to pay a premium for the water? Some water districts have rate structures that achieve that end, but there should be more. Conversely, shouldn't there be some reward for water conservation activities such as xeriscaping or installing water-efficient appliances and shower heads that save water on an ongoing basis?

There's a need for ongoing education about water conservation, starting in elementary school when children are more prone to take things to heart.

As for the really difficult decisions — what water to develop, how much water to develop and how to bear the cost — there are no simple answers.

It's certainly less expensive to convert agricultural water/land for municipal purposes, but do we really want to sacrifice much more fertile farm land for housing and other development? I don't know about you, but I really miss the views of orchards along the major highways in Utah, Davis, Weber and Box Elder counties.

One thing's for sure. Utah's going to continue to grow. In many parts of the state, population growth has outstripped the state's best projections. Ready or not, here it comes.

When it comes to water, the best Utah can do is take the time to carefully study the options, insist on strict conservation measures (which will buy time and save resources) and develop needed water in the most ecologically sensitive and cost-efficient means possible.

In other words, it's time to start thinking about our water beyond the tap.

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Marjorie Cortez, whose household water consumption will markedly decrease once her teenager goes to college, is a Deseret Morning News editorial writer.