Lehi City is currently operating under Phase 2 of its Water Shortage Management Plan, prohibiting residents and businesses from using sprinkler irrigation on consecutive days. The restriction limits watering to just two days per week with at least 48 hours between irrigation cycles to address ongoing drought conditions and low snowpack.
Water Restrictions in Effect
The implementation of Phase 2 follows a period of record low snowpack and sustained drought. In a May community update, Mayor Paul Binns emphasized the importance of conservation as the community entered warmer months, noting that the city is applying these same watering limitations to its parks and public spaces.
Smart Irrigation in Parks
To maximize efficiency in public areas, the Parks Division uses various irrigation technologies. Currently, 30% of city parks utilize ET-based Weather Track controllers that act as on-site weather stations to regulate schedules based on climate. Another 45% of facilities use historic ET-based controllers, while the remaining 25% rely on standard controllers.
Public Facility Schedules
The city's watering schedule for public lands varies by location and usage. For example, active sports parks are watered on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, often during daytime hours to maintain turf pressure. Meanwhile, the 55-acre cemetery is watered every 3-4 days per zone, though water runs daily across the property to ensure all areas receive two cycles per week.
Secondary Meter Installation
In response to a Utah State Legislature requirement to install secondary water meters by 2030, Lehi City has been executing a five-to-six-year installation project that began in October 2022. The city anticipates this initiative will result in a 20% to 40% reduction in water usage by providing residents with precise usage data.
Progress and Future Rates
The installation project, managed by contractor Hydro Vac Excavations LLC, has already completed Phases 1 through 9 and portions of Phase 10. While the city is working to replace over 12,000 meters, officials noted that a multi-year rate study will be conducted to develop an equitable structure where high-usage users may see increases while conservation-minded residents could see decreases.
Safety and Maintenance
Lehi officials remind property owners that the pressurized irrigation system remains active year-round to support fire hydrants. Residents are responsible for turning off their connections by October 15 annually. Because pressurized irrigation water is not treated like culinary water, the city warns users to be cautious of potential contamination from bacteria such as E. coli.
