Ivins City Manager Dale Coulam told the City Council at its June 3, 2021 meeting that the Water Conservancy District is preparing a list of recommendations to conserve water. Among the actions, the District recommends:
- Future development agreements and preliminary plans and plats contain a statement that, “The developer acknowledges the potential shortage of culinary and secondary water in the City and understands that building permits will be issued only upon availability…”
- Limiting the amount of turf in front and back yards for new construction. Dale says he believes they are looking at specific square footage amounts. He also commented that residents could still have a green yard using desert grasses and drought-resistant plants or xeriscape.
Councilmember Sue Gordhammer recommended excluding grass completely for new development. She sees this and other water conservation measures necessary to justify building a wastewater treatment plant. Councilmember Dennis Mehr was concerned that eliminating grass could discourage families with young children from moving to Ivins and make Ivins a less diverse community.
Dale explained that the District’s potential recommendation on limiting grass would only apply to new subdivisions, not situations where there is only one or two lots left to build on in a neighborhood. That’s because those infill homes will look out of place with the rest of the neighborhood.
Mayor Hart said that there are technologies that use water for grass more efficiently, like subsurface irrigation and electronic moisture sensors. Those or other technologies could become requirements for new development and would reduce the water use impact from grass.
Dale noted that the language the District is recommending for development agreements, plats, and preliminary plans could effectively limit development of new subdivisions. He also suggested that the Council can slow growth if there is a lot of housing inventory already in the pipeline.
Note: Please let me know if I have misunderstood anything in this discussion. Also, please share your comments and tell me about other Ivins issues I have not addressed in recent posts. CONTACT ME
Recent “Water” posts
- Down the Drain or Back Again? The Future of WastewaterPDF 📄Last night, Peter Annin, author of Purified and a leading expert on water recycling, gave a presentation organized by Conserve Southwest Utah on how communities across the country are rethinking wastewater—and how Washington County could, too. Annin highlighted case studies from places that have successfully turned wastewater into a reliable water source, including cities…
- Parched Today, Prepared Tomorrow: The Need for Drought PlanningPDF 📄As we experience the driest water year in at least 42 years, the need for a clear, effective drought contingency plan for Washington County and its cities has never been more urgent. For over three years, the Washington County Water Conservancy District (WCWCD) has been working on a plan, but getting eight cities to…
- Securing Our Water Future: An Evening with Peter AnninPDF 📄Join Peter Annin, author of “Purified” and a leading voice in water recycling and management, for an insightful discussion on how Washington County’s water plans compare to innovative practices across the United States. Discover how these strategies can help shape a sustainable water future for our community. Register now for this FREE event to…
- Low Snow, High Stakes: Water and GrowthPDF 📄Water is the lifeblood of our desert community, and I know many Ivins residents are deeply concerned about its availability as development continues at a seemingly relentless pace across the county. These worries only grow when we see projects that appear to consume water excessively. If you’ve read any of the 47 articles on…
- A Reservoir of Good News for Dry WashPDF 📄Ivins residents can celebrate a significant win for open space and water conservation. In a letter from Zach Renstrom, General Manager of the Washington County Water Conservancy District, the district announced it will postpone development of Dry Wash as a reuse water reservoir. (Download letter) This decision is a direct result of exemplary water…