SB 52: How Much Water Does Utah Use?

This bill passed the Senate unanimously and passed the House 52-20.

Utah has had a problem with overusing water for some time. But even understanding our overall water usage is difficult because Utah doesn’t always measure how much is used in some cases. The lack of metering on a lot of secondary water (the kind of water you use to water your lawn or wash your car) only exacerbates the problem.

Senator Jake Anderegg’s Senate Bill 52 would put Utah on a path to knowing how much water is used. Putting a meter on all secondary water connections will take time, but it will help consumers understand their water usage better, allowing them to better conserve if they want. Metering will also allow for water rates to be applied to usage, encouraging natural market forces to dictate water use.

If Utah is to properly plan what water projects are needed in the future and how much water should be conserved, then Utah must have a firm grasp on how much water is actually used.