The Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District (JVWCD) serves as a regional entity responsible for managing water availability for its member agencies, which include Draper City. According to a City of Draper news post from June 24, 2026, the JVWCD and its member agencies adopted a Level 2 water availability designation for communities across the region due to ongoing severe drought conditions. Under this designation, all cities supplied by the JVWCD are required to work together to achieve a 10% reduction in water use to protect the shared water supply and prevent reservoir levels from dropping too low.
As a result of these regional drought conditions, Draper City implemented specific water conservation efforts. According to a June 24, 2026, news post from the City of Draper, the city's parks department does not begin irrigation until May 15. Residents may notice more brown areas than normal in city parks and park strips until that date. Additionally, city code requires commercial properties to avoid watering outside of the hours of 6:00 PM to 10:00 AM.
Financial impacts of water management are also felt by local residents. In a May 21, 2026, letter regarding property tax updates, the City of Draper noted that the Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District increased water supply charges to Draper City by 4.5%. Consequently, Draper City raised water rates for its customers by the same amount, effective July 2026. This rate adjustment resulted in a monthly increase ranging from $1.40 to $4.85, depending on the specific zone of the resident. This increase did not apply to WaterPro service areas, according to the May 21, 2026, letter.
To assist residents in meeting conservation goals, Draper City offers a landscape incentive program through a partnership with Utah Water Savers. According to a June 24, 2026, news post, this program allows residents to receive up to $3 per square foot of lawn they replace with water-efficient landscaping, covering options such as side yard, full yard, or park strip conversions. Residents are also eligible for a $1 per square foot incentive for switching to drip irrigation and a $50 per tree incentive for adding trees. The program also provides rebates for smart controllers, offering up to $100 for installing a WaterSense-labeled smart controller, and up to $150 for replacing an old toilet with a WaterSense-labeled model. According to the June 24, 2026, news post, any toilet manufactured before 1994 may qualify for the toilet replacement rebate, and residents may submit up to two toilets per application.
In 2023, Draper City implemented new water conservation standards for development. According to a June 24, 2026, news post, these standards reduced turf requirements and required water-efficient irrigation for multi-family, mixed-use, and commercial projects. The city also added water-efficient systems for irrigation processes and smart controllers.
What this means for Draper
Because the Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District manages regional water availability, drought conditions trigger mandatory usage reductions for Draper. Residents should prepare for potential rate increases, such as the 4.5% adjustment that took effect in July 2026, and can utilize city-supported programs like Utah Water Savers to offset the costs of installing water-efficient landscaping or hardware.
