Lehi’s state-mandated secondary water metering program has transitioned from a multi-year construction campaign into a phase focused on completing remaining installations, repairing disturbed landscaping, and determining a new usage-based rate structure. The project, driven by House Bill 242, requires secondary water suppliers to meter pressurized connections by January 1, 2030.
The local program is a five- to six-year retrofit of more than 12,000 meters that launched in October 2022. City officials expect a 20% to 40% drop in outdoor water use once usage data is available to residents. The project was funded through a $10 million state grant, a $3,643,000 loan from the Utah Division of Water Resources at 1% interest, and approximately $643,000 from the city budget.
Hydro Vac Excavations LLC was contracted for the installations. While phases 1 through 9 and portions of phase 10 are complete, the project has moved toward restoration efforts, including sod replacement at roughly 4,000 locations. Some residents have reported issues such as settling soil and uneven patches near new meter lids.
Regarding future costs, a multi-year rate study is underway to decide how residents will pay for pressurized irrigation by the gallon rather than a flat lot-size charge. While the city is reviewing models from peer systems like Alpine, Saratoga Springs, Spanish Fork, and Springville, officials stated that any new structure would be adopted after a transparent process with public comment.
Drought management is already utilizing the meters as a planning tool. As of July 16, 2026, irrigation use was reported to be down about 18% for the current season, which has reduced the near-term risk of moving to a more restrictive phase of the Water Shortage Management Plan. The city's long-term goal is to reduce secondary water use from approximately 161 gallons per capita per day in 2024 to about 145 by 2030.
