July 12, 2001--
Utahns are heeding the plea to conserve water.
Water usage is down about 10 percent along the Wasatch Front.
News Specialist Kirsten Sorenson reports.
This summer has been as forecasters predicted - hot and dry.
But one thing water managers didn't expect - Utahns are starting to conserve water.
Water conservation is the topic of the summer.
Juanita Washington: "THE ONLY THING THAT I DO IS JUST WATER MY LAWN AT 6:00 IN THE MORNING AND THAT'S IT. WITH WASHING, WE WASH IN THE MORNING AND AT NIGHT."
James Keola: "MY MOM MAKES ME TAKE SHORT SHOWERS."
Gena Caldwell: "WE BASICALLY DON'T WATER THE LAWN. IT IS VERY BROWN AND DRY. IT'S A FIRE HAZARD, ACTUALLY."
Cody Allred: "WATERING MY LAWN AT NIGHTTIME AND MAYBE FEWER DAYS OF THE WEEK."
Our new habits are making a difference.
- Weber Water Conservation District officials say usage is down 10 percent.
- Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District reports a 10 percent drop during a five-day hot spell in July.
- And Salt Lake City Public Utilities managers says usage is down 8.9 percent.
Cutting back on watering our lawns accounts for much of the drop,
but officials say we can do better.
LeRoy Hooton, Jr./Salt Lake City Public Utilities: "THAT EQUATES TO ABOUT A 12 PERCENT REDUCTION IN OUTSIDE WATERING. OUR GOAL IS 20 PERCENT. SO WE'RE MAKING SOME PROGRESS, BUT STILL WE HAVE MORE TO DO."
Water managers credit education, like KSL Meteorologist Mark Eubank's weekly "Water Watch."
And it seems the fear of getting caught is inspiring people to conserve.
LeRoy Hooton, Jr./Salt Lake City Public Utilities: "PEER PRESSURE TAKES OVER AND, IN TIME, EVERYONE WILL BE EMBARRASSED TO GO OUT AND WATER DURING THE TIME THEY ARE BEING ASKED NOT TO."
Managers say homeowners' habits are fueling the decrease, more so than big water users -- government, parks, schools, churches and golf courses.
LeRoy Hooton, Jr./Salt Lake City Public Utilities: "AT LEAST THE PERCEPTION IS THERE. THE LARGE GREEN SPACES ARE VERY VISIBLE, GOVERNMENT IS VERY VISIBLE AND WHEN INSTITUTIONS AND GOVERNMENT AND OTHERS WATER THESE LARGE AREAS PEOPLE SEE IT."
Officials say, if nothing else, saving money is an incentive.
City water rates went up seven percent at the beginning of July.
And we still have the rest of a dry summer ahead.
