Salt Lake City Public Utilities has released the key findings of its drought plan, detailing a five-stage response system to manage water shortages, as the National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center issued its seasonal outlook for the August-September-October 2026 period.
Five Stages of Water Shortage Management
The City of Salt Lake announced on July 24, 2026, that its Public Utilities department has identified five specific stages of water shortage. Each stage is tied to distinct triggers based on the amount of daily water usage that must be reduced to maintain system stability.
Under the Stage 1 classification, labeled as 'Watch,' the city's focus remains on preventative measures. During this initial phase, residents and businesses are encouraged to take proactive actions intended to reduce the overall likelihood of a more significant shortage occurring.
Conservation Thresholds and Triggers
As water scarcity increases, the city's plan moves into more aggressive conservation requirements. Stage 2, categorized as 'Mild,' requires specific actions to reduce daily water consumption by an amount between 10 million and 24 million gallons.
If conditions worsen, the city enters Stage 3, or 'Moderate.' This stage mandates interventions to lower water use within a range of 25 million to 39 million gallons per day. These stages provide a structured framework for municipal response as environmental conditions fluctuate.
Severe and Critical Drought Responses
The most intensive levels of the drought plan involve significant reductions in water demand. Stage 4, designated as 'Severe,' requires the implementation of measures to reduce water use by a volume ranging from 40 million to 64 million gallons per day.
The final and most extreme classification is Stage 5, known as 'Critical.' At this level, the city must execute strategies to achieve a reduction in water usage of 65 million gallons or more every single day.
National Weather Service Seasonal Outlook
These municipal drought protocols arrive alongside new seasonal climate data from the National Weather Service. The Climate Prediction Center released its official seasonal outlook for the August, September, and October 2026 period on July 24, 2026.
This long-range forecast provides the climatological context necessary for local utilities to monitor potential shifts in precipitation and temperature that could trigger the aforementioned shortage stages. The center's data is part of a broader effort to provide monthly and seasonal outlooks to help regional planners prepare for upcoming weather patterns.
Long-Range Climate Monitoring
The Climate Prediction Center continues to issue these official 90-day outlooks once per month near mid-month. These forecasts are part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) suite of tools used to track long-range environmental trends.
By monitoring these seasonal transitions, Salt Lake City officials can better align local water conservation efforts with the predicted moisture availability for the late summer and autumn months.
