2025 Water Conservation Plan
Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities is updating its Water Conservation Plan, and we want your input. This plan is part of statewide conservation efforts and national guidelines to use our water wisely and make sure we have enough for future generations to come.
Water conservation is about learning to do more with less - protecting our quality of life while using our resources responsibly. Please review the draft plan and share your thoughts; we want to hear from you!
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Have additional questions or comments? Send us an email!
Conservation Plans help us understand:
- how much water we have, how much we use, and what goals we should set for water use
- how well our current water-saving programs are working
- complex issues that affect short- and long-term conservation efforts
- the overall need and shared responsibility for conserving water
- available tools and resources to achieve goals
The updated Water Conservation Plan will:
- Share information about current and future water supply demand
- Look at how we’ve used water in the past
- Set 5-, 10-, and 40- year goals to guide long-term conservation efforts
Phases
Project FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do we need a conservation plan?
Utah State Code 73-10-52: Water Conservation Plan requires that water providers with more than 5,000 connections submit water conservation plans to the Utah Division of Water Resources every five years.
Additionally, planning allows SLCDPU to:
- properly budget and innovate, benefiting water consumers
- optimize conservation programming throughout service areas
- asses water supply and demand and establish goals for achieving and sustaining necessary levels of water use reduction
- ensure reduction in water use, minimizing negative impacts to the community, economy, or environment
Has the City completed conservation plans in the past?
Yes, Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities has completed plans every five years since 1999 on behalf of the City.
How is this plan different from earlier plans?
This plan uses better data and analysis than past plans, giving us a clearer picture of how water is used across different customer groups. With this information, we can set more accurate conservation goals based on future supply and demand—goals that go beyond the State of Utah’s latest targets.
Will my water rates increase?
No, your water rates will not increase because of this water conservation plan. However, Salt Lake City is planning gradual water rate increases over the next several years to help pay for upgrades to water treatment plants, pipelines, and wells. Conservation plans helps keep bills lower over time- saving the average household about $34 a month in 2025.
Is Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities going to require me to remove my lawn to save water?
No, this plan will not require you to remove your lawn. Our goal is to save water through practical programs and resources. For example, we partner with Utah State University to promote grass types that use less water, offer free sprinkler checks to improve efficiency, and provide weather data to help with smart outdoor watering.
Does this plan do enough to help us save water?
The conservation goals in this plan are based on extensive research and analysis of our water supply and demand. They go beyond the requirements in the State’s Regional Conservation Goals and can be updated as conditions change.
Does Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities plan to mandate these goals? Will I be fined if I don’t conserve enough?
No, these are community goals, not mandates. You will not be fined for not meeting them. In times of drought or shortage, temporary restrictions may be put in place, but long-term cutbacks are not part of this plan. By choosing to save water in our daily lives, we can protect our future supply, support our community, and care for the environment. Conservation is simply a smart habit that benefits us all.
How does Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities measure and classify water use?
Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities classifies water use by the following categories:
- Residential (single residence, duplex, triplex, fourplex)
- Commercial (business, hospital, hotel/motel, restaurant, apartment, miscellaneous)
- Institutional (school, church, parks, government)
- Industrial (industrial customers of all types)
The two largest groups of water users in Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities service area are the residential and commercial customer categories.
For purposes of planning, the commercial classification has been broken down into further sub-categories. See Page 2-5 in the 2025 Water Conservation Plan for details.
How does this plan support efforts for Great Salt Lake?
We are committed to supporting and helping restore the Great Salt Lake. Additional conservation scenarios, such as the role of depletion, are being evaluated to help us go beyond the outlined goals in chapter 3 of this plan. We’re also continuing research to better understand future water demand and how conservation can make a bigger impact.
What does Water Conservation look like in practice?
Water conservation in practice means using simple, proven ways to save water indoors and outdoors—and our community has already made great progress over the last 20 years. Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities supports this work through education campaigns like “Never Waste,” “Rain On/Sprinklers Off,” and the “7 Gallon Challenge.” We also offer tools and programs such as free sprinkler checks, leak detection, WaterMAPS™ for landscape insights, and learning labs to share tips on efficient watering and repairs. These resources make it easier for everyone to save water every day.
Upcoming and ongoing events
Past events
Event date: September 17th, 2025 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM.
1383 South 900 West
Event date: September 10th, 2025 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM.
1330 East Chambers Avenue
1 registrant
Event date: August 27th, 2025 from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM.