At Salt Lake County, we are doing our part to conserve water. From monitoring our snowpack to implementing water-wise initiatives, we are committed to long-term water conservation amid frequent emergency droughts and changing environmental landscapes.
“Water conservation is a critical issue to the well-being of our community as we grow and adapt to the changes our landscape faces.” — Mayor Jenny Wilson
Salt Lake County departments have planned to audit outdoor water systems to develop specialized water plans for current and future use.
Salt Lake County parks are relying on current technology to determine minimum watering schedules while continuing high-quality outdoor facilities.
Salt Lake County had a goal of reducing its water use by 5% in 2021. Salt Lake County operations cut 13% of its water use through the heaviest use months of May-October in 2021.
In 2022, our operations continue additional waterwise measures started in 2021 to conserve water, including:
Parks and Recreation has reduced water used in parks and golf courses by approximately 21% which equates to 127,727,000 gallons of water over 957 acres.
Our Watershed Planning and Restoration team works to protect over 900 miles of streams that run through Salt Lake County!
The Jordan River flows over 50 miles through Utah’s population and economic center—the Wasatch Front. The initial Blueprint Jordan River visioning process was completed in December of 2008, and was refreshed in 2022.
Access the full 2022 Blueprint Jordan River Refresh below.
The Salt Lake County Council passed a resolution on May 12, 2015, to encourage residents and businesses to adopt water wise plans.
The council is also asking cities to consider resolutions of their own to manage water use specific to their city.
Salt Lake County wants to challenge residents to conserve more water this year, by cutting 5% of their own water use.
There are more than 1.16 million residents in Salt Lake County. If 25% of residents reduced their water use by 5%, Salt Lake County would save about 2 MILLION gallons of water per day.
Figuring out the best way to conserve water can feel overwhelming and time consuming. We centralized water resources for residents in one, easy map.
1) Search by address using the search bar above, or zoom in on your home or business' location to find out which water district you live in. You can do this by clicking on the plus sign in the top right corner or scrolling in with your computer mouse.
2) Once you are zoomed in, your district will be highlighted. Click on the map.
3) Information based on your address will display on the left. Here you will see water savings for you, your water district contact information, and specific water conservation messages.
What does a 10% reduction in sprinkling look like?
It's as simple as cutting one day out of your watering each week.
Did you know watering your lawn is more effective at night? You lose a lot of water due to evaporation during the hot sun of the day – as much as 20%-30%.
Do something that saves you money + water.
Your neighbors don’t want to see it, and neither do we. Don’t clean your driveway with a garden hose; use a broom to sweep it instead. Sweeping will first loosen dirt and grime, which will decrease your water use and save you time.
"Waterever" you do, don’t water your sidewalks or driveway. Your grass and plants get no benefit and the water gets wasted. Adjust your sprinklers to maximize the important areas they water!
An easy way to conserve water at your home is to have a drought-resistant landscape.
There are so many flowers and plants native to Utah and the desert that will keep your yard looking lively, beautiful and save water! Visit a local nursery to find the best ones to fit your landscaping or the Conservation Garden Park website for ideas.
The 2022 Water Summit was a 4-week series highlighting important water issues facing Salt Lake County and its residents.
Salt Lake County's Watershed Manager, Robert Thompson, shared the 2022 Snowpack Report and what's in store for SLCo as we headed into the summer months.
Michael Shea, Salt Lake County's former Sustainability Director, walks through water legislation passed during the 2022 Legislative Session and discusses how it will shape future water policies for Salt Lake County and impact our residents.
Martin Jensen, Salt Lake County Parks & Recreation director, discussed proactive, ongoing water conservation and smart management efforts in place at parks and recreation centers around the County, as well as additional drought-centric plans and deferred maintenance.
Concerned about low water levels of the Great Salt Lake? Laura Vernon, from the Great Salt Lake Advisory Council, gave the inside scoop on the Lake. What should we be concerned about? How can we do our part to make a difference in the Great Salt Lake's future?
Cynthia Bee, a landscape architect and outreach coordinator at Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District, talks about reducing your water footprint by 5,000-8,000 gallons a year by rethinking your outdoor living spaces.
Salt Lake County will propose more water savings solutions to further reduce its own footprint.