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Show eames COUNTY Water MARCH 28, 2001 COURIER Resources Sapped — State: _ Purveyors Discuss Drought, Encourage Conservation KIRSTEN SHAW COURIER STAFF tems and indoor plumbing leaks are and along the Wasatch Front are significantly below normal,” a news repaired in addition to reduced usage. Agency managers have expressed a ban on lawn watering during the day release compiled by a two of the dis| ater supply agencies met \4 last week to discuss coor- dination of efficient water light of low snowpack shortage expected farmers to conserve in and water Agents are requesting and use worsen. residents the tricts’ managers stated. “It has been concluded that water conservation will be the key to stretch the limited supply through summer months.” Last week, the Courier reported the Provo River agency, which man. ages Deer Creek Reservoir, currently plans to only release 60 percent of normal levels to shareholders. Snowpack, which is the measurement of water in T hings could actually get could lead to a disastrous drought. worse than they are now. | If we use it all up and have another dry year it ority and what they are growing,” Denos said. “A lot of orchard irrigators on our system are being effected. could be disastrous.” DAVID OVARD Association) is hurting the worst at 60 Some irrigators routinely fallow a portion of their ground, but if you grow percent off Deer Creek. We are all worried about water supply for this coming year. If we use it all up and have another dry year it could be disastrous.” Keith Denos, general manager of the snow is 3o percent lower than normal. This year, at Trial Lake levels are Provo River Water Users Association, 06 percent of the average amount with concurs. 13.3 inches of snow-water equivalent, or snowpack. Last year levels were at — : “That is the concern we have,” said - Denos. “T fully expect most entities along the Wasatch Front will be able to Official worries that too have banned outside watering from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Denos said it is unlikely agencies recycling centers will turn to allowing ae every | other day. TIM WESTBY “When folks fa they can aly COURIER STAFF water on certain days, they wake up -and water rather than see if the grass needs water,” Denos said. state official is trying to get While homeowners might fare well, farmers and large landowners public to take a poten: Ac will likely feel the reperenssions of the _ tially dangerous environmental drought. “There will be enough for homes hazard more seriously—and he is this year, but irrigators may feel a particularly concerned about pinch. It depends on water rights, pri- little oil is making it to resources, and warn a dry summer “Things could actually get worse than they are now,’ ’ said David Ovard, Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District general manager, who assisted in the set-up of the March 21 meeting. “Provo (River Water Users Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District general Manager — orchards you don’t have that option— you need to water to keep things alive.” 19.9 inches—and that was below aver- It is unlikely fishing on the Provo River will be effected by the drought. The Central Utah Water Conservancy District requires a minimum of release from amount Deer Creek and | Jordanelle Reservoirs. Even during a age—at 84 percent. severe dry spell, the stream flow will meet water demand this year. The conThe National Weather eh cice has adequately Soueere the fisheries and _ cern is if we go into next year with low | forecasted below-normal precipitation. _ fishing. reservoir and snowpack levels.” 3 “Conservation will be critical,” For now, water wholesalers and Twenty agencies were representsaid Jonathan Clegg, Provo River managers are waiting to see if the ed at the Sandy City Hall meeting, and Water Users Association operations — expected poor runoff materializes. the Provo River agency presented and engineering manager. - Figures released the first of April will — data, along with the Central Utah and While personal use restrictions be paramount to the extremity of the _ Weber Basin and Jordan Valley Water _ have not been implemented, yet, drought. Conservancy Districts, Pineview, andagency members are strongly urging “We are all in a wait and see Sandy and Salt Lake City. the public to use water wisely. Some mode,” Ovard said. “We want the pub“Although runoff forecasts vary agencies may begin restricting use by lic on alert that this is1 not just business from basin to basin and change as mid summer. as usual.” additional data becomes available, all Water managers are requesting forecasts for basins delivery water to broken or inefficient sprinkler ‘Sysemail: kirsten@wasatchcountycourier.com - BLACKOUT While resources are available; the CONTINUED FROM A1 loads. Between what we've got as a firm resource, natural gas, diesel fuel and hydros we should be able to cover all our loads.” In addition to the wattage contracts, Heber’s. power. company gains resources from Intermountain Power. Agency, Colorado River Project and Hunter Resource near Huntington Canyon. While power shortages are not Imminent, officials Lee customers to conserve. “Conservation? J would think that would be a good thing to point out,” Davis said, speculating wasteful use could cause power resources to be dangerously depleted. “If we don’t have to buy it, it eliminates load off our — system. We wouldn’t have to go into _ the market to offset demand.” | Utah Power is not predicting blackouts, but said use must be efficient to _ prevent future outages. “We are not in the same situation company does purchase power; therefore representatives request homeowners minimize usage during the busy market hours of 4 to 8 p. m. on weekdays. “If everybody is trying to purchase power at the same time it drives prices up,” Kesler said. “The less we have to buy at those times, the better off it is for the customer. This year, Heber Light Gulcrene eda rate increase of 20 percent—the “I think we’ve covered our bases pretty good. _ Between what we’ve got as a firm resource...we should be able to cover all our loads.” io BRENT DAVIS, Heber Light and Power general manager that California is in, ’ said Margaret Kesler of: Utah Power’s Public Relations. “We are urging consumers _ first in 20 years. It came as quite a to use what they need. By and large, © shock to customers already burdened Utah Power generates the vast majori- _ by soaring natural gas prices. In. mid-March, Gov. ea vat: ty it’s customers use.” | announced: Utah needs to build addi‘Utah Power has thermal generation in Wyoming.and Utah, coal-fire plants, _ tional natural gas. pipelines, coal and power plants. Leavitt met with utility hydropower in the Northwest, a geotexperts to help prepare Utah’s new hermal plant in southern Utah and a energy policy, in hopes that the state natural-gas plant in Salt Lake City. Wasatch County. Sam Schroyer, an environmental scientist with the Utah Department of _ Environmental Quality, is worried about “do-it-yourselfers” that change the oil in their vehicles, then don’t - dispose of the used oil properly. “We do know there is a problem. As to the specifics, we don’t know -how bad it is,” says Schroyer. .. In Wasatch County, used oil collec. tion numbers are— low, he says, We know ris much oil 1s being turned in, what we don’t know is how | much isn’t. — Re SAMSCHROYER __ _ Environmental:scientist - raising the concern that people are still dumping the oil on weeds or other places to get rid of it. The county’s three collection centers collected about 1,500 gallons for each of the © would learn valuable lessons from | last two years. California’s deregulation dilemma. The county’s health airector. The Governor said 95 percent of the | however, does not think there is - state’s energy comes from coal, which much to worry about thanks to is touted as an unhealthy resource. increased environmental awareness Utah Power offers energy efficienby the public. According to Phil | cy tips for customers at www.pacifiWright, the last time the health corp.com. Suggestions include, department received a complaint cleaning forced-air filters, keeping was about three years ago from blinds closed during cold seasons, someone in Wallsburg. About the dusting off light bulbs, insulating same time a local trucking company heating ducts and caulking and - was found dumping oil by the side -weather-stripping gaps. More obviof the road. When the company’s ous—but highly effective—tips owners were told the practice was include reducing thermostat tempernow illegal, they stopped, says atures. Each degree of reduction cuts Wright. up to three percent of heating costs . While Schroyer admits that busiover an eight-hour period, according ‘nesses that aren’t part of the state’s _ to the power company. used oil program could be accepting Customers can obtain free homea lot of.the used oil, he says the specific efficiency profiles, analyzed by potential for problems is huge. Utah Power experts, by calling 800Schroyer says a gallon of oil can con- 222-4335. Brent Davis said the energy con- taminate a million gallons of drink- cerns might continue to plague the - state, but his agency is taking steps to families. Plants grown in soil or fed increase production. Heber Light and | ion Oil. Properly— could occur. Davis and Weber counties limited . LL CU ILL ~A8 Power is considering building an ener-- gy generation at Jordanelle dam’s base and hopes to begin construction this summer. “IT think this is something that will be around for awhile until they get some generation and transmission ing water—a year’s supply for three by water contaminated by oil. can absorb heavy metals—poisons. that can. roa move up the food chain. | Used ‘oi is ‘leo. a caliahin resource, says Schroyer. It can: be refined and reused OF. burned for energy, both of which cut down on — the dependence for foreign oil. “We know how much oil is being built,” Davis said. “We’re working on it. | don’t see prices going down for the | ~ turnedi in, what we don’t know i is how foreseeable future.” ~ much isn t email: kirsten@wasatchcountycouriercom = email: eeeecncute com |