BRIAN WOLFER, Special to the Standard-Examiner
A sprinkler waters the grass outside KFC on 12th Street in Ogden on Wednesday, June 9, 2021.
OGDEN — A resolution amending the Ogden’s Water Shortage Management Plan passed unanimously by members of the City Council on Tuesday.
“It’s about time Ogden residents changed the way they think about water,” said Councilman Richard Hyer.
As a retail water provider to more than 500 residents, Ogden City is required under state code to develop and adopt a water conservation plan, to be updated every five years.
The most up to date conservation plan, adopted in December 2020, includes a Water Shortage Management Plan specifically addressing low water levels and drought conditions.
Councilman Bart Blair said the amendments are needed in order for Ogden Mayor Mike Caldwell to declare a state of emergency in regards to a water shortage along with any actions deemed necessary to reduce water consumption.
Amendments approved by the council include changes to the four phases of water shortage, updated triggers for each phase and limits on maximum irrigations per week.
According to Ogden City documents, current triggers for phase two were based on water levels at Pineview Reservoir and the Ogden River, while triggers for phase three included additional sources such as the Eden Valley wells.
Under the proposed amendments, triggers for each phase would tie in with the state’s drought index. After going through last year’s season, Ogden City Utility Manager Brady Herd said officials felt like the city was slightly out of line with the state’s phases.
Each phase has been elevated in classification, with phase one going from normal to moderate, phase two going from moderate to severe, phase three going from severe to extreme and phase four moving from extreme to exceptional.
Phase two will have a reduction rate of 10%, phase three at 20% and phase four at 30%.
Herd said as city water personnel are out taking notice of residents’ water usage, both culinary and secondary citywide, door hangers will be issued as a warning for those failing to comply with the ordinance before a violation is issued.
Being in a severe state as issued in a declaration by Caldwell, the succession of fines would start at $50 and continue at $50 increments with every subsequent violation and will be issued by code enforcement.
According to Herd, Weber Basin Water District will also be out patrolling for anyone violating secondary water restrictions.
If a resident is found to be violating secondary water restrictions in the pursuit of culinary water violators, Herd said they will reach out to the proper entity to inform them of the violation.
“I know in talking to Weber Basin they’re being super aggressive this year,” Herd said.
Hyer said he thinks it’s about time Ogden residents changed the way they think about water, especially when it comes to landscaping.
“We are so addicted to Kentucky bluegrass,” Hyer said. “It’s very thirsty grass.”
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