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The Independent
Even though Utah saw what is being called a “Miracle May” in regards to rain, the Washington County Water Conservancy District says that Washington County is still in dire straights, and as a result, new watering restrictions have been imposed. While these new restrictions are applying to water users above the Washington Fields Diversion and the Toquerville Secondary Water System, the public information manager with WCWCD, Karry Rathje, said it’s important to remember the watering restrictions already in place for the entirety of Washington County.
“There has been some confusion,” Rathje told The Independent. “Every city has its own watering ordinance. Most of them—including St. George, Washington City, and Ivins—prohibit watering between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. ‘Water in the dark,’ is a good way to remember it.”
Rathje said that all of the rain in May contributed to a significant decrease of water use because people didn’t need to run their sprinklers, but the rainfall didn’t add to the reservoirs.
“Washington County’s large reservoirs are designed to collect snowpack,” Rathje said, “which is a slow, gradual melt.”
As of the beginning of July, the Virgin River is flowing at approximately 70 percent of average, and the reservoirs are approximately 70 percent full.
“We are equal to—or slightly worse—than 2014,” Rathje said.
An official press release from WCWCD stated that because the Virgin River and its tributaries are experiencing significantly diminished flows, the following additional restrictions are now—or will soon be—in effect:
– Water users above the Washington Fields Diversion
The Utah Department of Natural Resources State Engineer, Kent Jones, has ordered surface water users on the Virgin River and its tributaries above the Washington Fields Diversion to immediately cease diversion and use of water rights with a priority date of 1901 or later until further notice. For additional information, please contact one of the following: Water Commissioner David Jessop at (435) 673-3617, Regional Engineer Kurt Vest at (435) 586-4231, or Distribution Engineer Mike Silva at (801) 538-7430.
– Water users of the Toquerville Secondary Water System
Toquerville Secondary Water System is implementing residential and agricultural water restrictions. Effective July 6, residential water users are limited to outdoor watering a maximum of three assigned days per week between 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and agricultural users are limited to watering a maximum of two assigned days per week between 6 a.m. and 11 a.m. Fines of double and then triple the annual assessment will be imposed on the third and then fourth violation. A fifth violation will result in shutting off the water for the duration of the season. Contact the district for additional details at (435) 673-3617.
About Washington County Water Conservancy District
Washington County Water Conservancy District, a not-for-profit public agency, was established in 1962 to manage southern Utah’s regional water needs. The district oversees the development, stabilization, management, acquisition and conservation of water resources in Washington County in an ongoing effort to provide a safe, sustainable water supply for current and future generations. Visit www.wcwcd.org for more information.
