| Show W Water oter levels in Utah Dropping over aver State Water levels have bee dropping in many areas of 11 tit sta state slate te over o the past severe seven years Such changes a r l' r r I largely the result of three factors fac Cae factors tors general drought conditions condi conditions Hons storage in upstream reservoirs lining of canals canal s and more efficient come conveyance ance e and use of surface water increased increased increased in in- in- in creased use of water from th the e underground THE TilE DECLINE in 1961 and d the anticipated lowering i in n 1963 are arc due largely to the first firs t factor Precipitation is the ul ultimate ultimate ul- ul source of ground water water wa ter tel During years cars of low precipitation precipitation pre less water gets into the ground aquifers Some Som c wells and springs cease t to flow and water tables dro drop P I Drought years ears also causee cause causee e c owners of wells to pump ore than usual because sur- sur ace supplies are arc below nor- nor nal And it causes more wa er cr sa saving ins steps to be bc taken and md some water formerly lost to some users is prevented from Crom seeping into the ground groundwater groundwater water basin This combination of or conditions is the basic reason reason reason rea rea- son for the tho drops in in water pressures or of levels In addition addi tion lion to dropping water levels le some water users who rely on flowing wells wets find that they decrease in flow due to cating caving caving cat ing rusting of the thc casing because be he- cause they the have l filled with sand and algae or because of other reasons DUnI DURING G times o of water shortage and increased demands demands de de- de- de m mands ands the state engineer encourages en en- all aU users taking water water wa ter tel from Crom springs flowing wells or shallow water table sources to evaluate e their range long water supplies and needs and to either cither singly 0 or r preferably by br groups plan for Cor future use of their water Drilling of or pump wells in the most advantageous ad area to replace flowing wells may be the thc best solution to the overall lem The state engineer recognizes the basic right of allwater all allwater allwater water users with their priori- priori tics ties This includes artesian w wells ells springs and shallow water water wa wa- ter table wells It is felt Celt however however how how- however ever that the responsibilities for f or maintaining adequate diversion diversion di di- version facilities rests with the water user but will offerall offer otter offerall all possible help in completing ing necessary changes t o 0 transfer these rights to more e efficient and less wasteful water water water wa wa- ter diversions The Thc public should understand understand under under- stand that the law requires certain minimum periods of time for processing of applications applications and changes and and should therefore make any necessary ty filings at the earl earliest iest lest p possible date |
