Construction under way for water conservation education center in West Jordan

WEST JORDAN — The Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District is taking water-wise planting to a grass-roots level — literally.

The district broke ground Tuesday on the WaterSmart Education Center — a $3.5 million, 9,400-square-foot building at the entrance of the Conservation Garden Park, 8215 S. 1300 West. The multi-use facility will act as home base for horticulturists, with classrooms, exhibits and a greenhouse.

"It's interesting in my public service lifetime that issues like conservation jump the tracks and become nonpolitical," said Lt. Gov. Greg Bell. "The vocabulary for conservation now doesn't have any negatives. It's something Republicans and Democrats agree on. Whether we agree as adults or not, our children are already there. … Even we dinosaurs have been able to migrate to these conservation values that really make a difference."

Utah is the second-driest state in the nation and also the second-highest water consumer. Sixty-five percent of Utahns' household water consumption is used outdoors, district officials said.

Utahns live in a high-mountain, arid-desert climate, but "our public has decided on a landscape that's not desert but beautiful landscape," said Richard Bay, the district's general manager.

"We've given a lot of thought to the name, the WaterSmart Education Center," Bay said, "and we believe it will be a constant reminder to us that conserving water is the right thing to do, and it begins with us."

The ground breaking comes on the heels of a comment by Patricia Mulroy, the head of Southern Nevada Water Authority, who said, "They can't spell conservation in Salt Lake City."

While Las Vegas residents use 165 gallons of water a day, Salt Lake City residents use a whopping 240 gallons.

"I disagree with that," Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon said of Mulroy's comment, "and obviously today is a great example of how we are putting our money where our mouth is. But we in Salt Lake have quite a way to go. Water is critical for Utah, for agriculture, for economics, for transportation, for health."

The WaterSmart building is aiming to be the first platinum-rated Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design public education center in Salt Lake County. Bay and the district board say they hope the facility will be an inspiration to accomplish smart water use.

Currently, education classes are hosted in the Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District administration buildings, and the horticulturists have no office space.

The building is the second phase to the garden area, which includes 24 exhibits and instruction stations. The WaterSmart Education Center is scheduled to be complete in April 2011.

e-mail: astowell@desnews.com