South Salt Lake City has updated its water resource plan to secure the city’s long-term water supply. These changes were primarily driven by a new state law (SB 110), which required municipalities to integrate water use and preservation planning with land use planning by the end of 2025.
“This update will not propose any immediate changes to the municipal code, but this will serve more as a guidance to provide increased focus for future development and co-amendments to consider and involve water conservation efforts and efficient water usage,” Jed Shum, a community development planner, told the city council at an Oct. 29 work meeting. “Through this update in the general plan, the city will continue to explore and adopt new technologies, best practices and educational programs that are proven to reduce water consumption and demand.”
As it addresses its water needs, South Salt Lake faces two significant challenges: aging distribution pipes—many of which are more than 50 years old—and declining well capacity. To meet current demand, the city must supplement local well production by purchasing water from the Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District, which is significantly more expensive than city-sourced well water…