Conservation

Only after the last tree has been cut down. Only after
the last river has been poisoned. Only after the last fish
has been caught. Only then will you find that
money cannot be eaten."
- Mohawk Indian Prophecy

Per capita, Utah has the second highest level of water use in the United States yet we live in the second driest state in the nation. We must be wise stewards of this precious commodity. In our unique, closed water system, where supplies are limited, that we manage our water resources carefully is vital. That we protect our water supplies from intentional and unintentional contamination is critical.

In terms of planetary supply, the simplest way to understand the scarcity of water is this: If all the water in the world were compared to a 1 litre bottle, once salt water and water in icecaps have been subtracted, there is but a single drop of fresh water to grow crops with, drink, wash and power industries.

The worlds demand for water is doubling every 20 years.

With populations increasing and less water left in streams or the aquifers, the amount of available water per person is declining, often rapidly. The danger signs are manifold. Water tables are declining, many important rivers, such as the Colorado, no longer reach the sea for months on end. More than 1.1 billion people do not have consistent access to fresh water and more than twice that number lack access to sanitation. The levels of aquifers, the essential underground layers of porous rock or sand containing water, are falling in many places..and water quality everywhere is in decline, nowhere more than in the burgeoning cities of the developing world. (Whose Water is It?)

Frequently asked questions
We’ve had some good snowfalls and some heavy rains, why should we conserve Utah’s water?

55 Facts Figures and Follies of Water Conservation

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For more technical information