Reader comments
Foundation warns Utahns to conserve water

I can think of 2 things that would help conserve water- and both can be done at the local level of government. The first is to stop homeowners assn. and cities from requiring grass in the front - including parking strips. If a person doesn't have a lawn, or lets it turn brown, why cite them or fine them. the 2nd thing, lets change building codes to say all new construction - homes and businesses need to have cistrons to collect ground and roof water during storms. The pioneers used that idea over 1 hundered years ago. Use the water for ground plants, car washing etc- just not consumption. Putting one in underground at the time a digging the foundation, would not be much of an extra cost and would pay for itself very fast.
Why not try it for a few years and see what happens.

This foundation and water districts suppliers better take note too. Until these groups start restricting developement, and the increased number of water users then they should keep their mouths shut. They have no cause to call on existing water users to conserve more and with their forked tongue allow uncontrolled developement. Natural resources are limiting factors on developement and being a desert climate there are limits. When developement stops, then come talk to me. The people are already conserving but the developement end of use has not been properly addressed for conservation with limited resources. Now we have Nevada trying to take our water and where are these conservationst at? This foundation better start talking to the cities and state departments about controlling developement before repeatedly attacking consumers. As far as I am concerned they are the blame for water shortages if any. Talk to the water departments and they say there is no shortages, but we don't have any reserves either. Who's fault is this? Conservation starts with controlled and limited developement in a desert climate. Or they learn how to create water and land.

One of the problems with collecting rain water in cisterns in Utah is that you need water rights to do so. The rain water that falls on your property is not your own -- sounds looney, but all too true in Utah!

I have to second everything "Bob G" says. The problem is very much at the local level. Requiring homes to have grass is insane and has been used to make fools of local ordinance enforcers. I agree that yards should look presentable but local zoning/codes should be changed to reflect desert states before I'm about to help conserve! Cities have succumbed over the years to the lobbying of a few (people who want their street to look like Ozzie and Harriets) and, simply put, is impossible and expensive to try to enforce. Ever wonder why your local taxes keep going up? Look no further than code enforcement, they take a lions share of the budgets!
Also, I agree that the state is not doing enough to protect the water that Las Vegas is taking. As far as having a cistern is concerned, look for the legislature to change that law next legislative session.

The Gov of Utah may be signing an agreement with Nevada to export groundwater from the west desert to Las Vegas. This report is another reason this should not occur.

Las Vegas uses twice the water as more responsible western cities like Tuscon and Albuquerque. We have two reports and a third coming which states that if Las Vegas conserved as these two cities the pipeline would not have to be built.

Both NV and UT must become driven to water conservation to sustain their growth.

Intersting that cistrons are "illegal" in Utah. I am informed by the City of S. Jordan, that I am responsable for the rain run off of my property. If it damages or flows into someone elses place, I am at fault. Think the "owner" of the rain would be the one liable.