The Weber Basin Water Conservancy District (WBWCD) offers wholesale pricing of drinking and irrigation water to a variety of customers across the northern Wasatch front and back. Their customers range from large cities and improvement districts to small irrigation companies and industrial users near the Great Salt Lake. 

In Davis County those drinking water customers include Bountiful, Centerville, Clinton, Clearfield, Farmington, Fruit Heights, Kaysville, Layton, Sunset, West Bountiful City, West Point City, Woods Cross, and Syracuse. Secondary water customers include Benchland Water District, Bountiful Irrigation District, Centerville Deuel Creek Irrigation, Davis and Weber Canal Company, Haight’s Creek Irrigation, Kayscreek Irrigation, Kaysville Irrigation, and Layton Canal Irrigation. Each of these companies has their own water restrictions and enforcement. 

The district recently held its Annual Customer Agency Meeting. This meeting is typically scheduled early in April to provide the most up to date and accurate information possible and to offer a clearer understanding of this year’s water supply. They indicate it has been a fantastic water year, although there has been half the snowpack as last year. Reservoirs this year are at 81% active capacity, a drastic change from last year’s 40-50% (although 2023 was better than the previous three years with its unbelievable record-setting snowpack). 

April 4 marks the median day for snowpack, signaling the transition from accumulation to melting. As the district approaches this crucial period, their focus shifts to monitoring water flow rates in streams and rivers, as well as the capacity levels of reservoirs and managing the runoff to maximize storage and minimize flooding. In anticipation of the upcoming runoff, the district will be proactively implementing measures to manage water releases from the reservoirs, ensuring sufficient capacity to accommodate the runoff. The priority is efficient and sustainable management of water resources to meet the current and future needs of communities while safeguarding against potential risks, mitigating environmental concerns, and ensuring a long-term water supply.

Willard Bay Reservoir is at capacity and since mid-January, WBWCD has released 200,000-acre feet of water to the southern arm of the Great Salt Lake (essentially, they have released water comparable to the size of Willard Bay). In terms of the various reservoirs and holding locations, East Canyon is the most challenging because it is different in terms of release and capture. 

This year, customer agencies were sent a four-year look ahead due to the size of upcoming fee structure increases (these vary by type and tier of water). New developments are not paid out of current rates but there is the need to bring up reserves to pay for repair and maintenance projects. The district created its first Capital Asset Plan in 2017, updated it in 2023, and has projected the need for $285,000,000 in expenses within the next 10 years. Federal funding is less to none, however, there are grants and low interest rate loans available. The district has multiple ongoing capital water projects (some of which you have seen); including new increased size culinary water storage tanks in various locations; Willard Canal lining project continuance; Parallel Aqueduct Project, and the Davis-Weber Canal tandem pump-station.

The Utah State Legislature adopted multiple bills this year affecting water, water efficiency, waterwise landscaping requirements, secondary water and metering, allowance of more options for small entities, saved water, grant matching, construction stormwater permit process, Great Salt Lake revisions aimed at salt and mineral extractions, and advanced air mobility preventing the use of drones built in China or Russia on water projects. SB211 provided for general water infrastructure amendments, creates the Water District Water Development Council, and provides for the appointment of a Utah Water Agent (Water Czar) position. HB280 called for formulation of a State Water Plan by December 2026 and for this plan to be updated every 10 years. One positive note is that additional fees will be studied for two years before any additional recommendations are made.

The district continues to work toward its mission to conserve and develop water resources to provide for the needs of its customer agencies, use the water resources of the Weber and Ogden drainages responsibly for the greatest benefit to the public, supply high-quality drinking water, and project the watersheds of our source rivers and groundwater supplies. 

WBWCD applauds residents for giving their time, energies, and attention to water conservation efforts. They hope to enable more extensive incentive programs to the communities and make use of state monies for service areas. Please reach out to the district for further information or discussion. 

Customers are asked to ensure their water valves are closed by April 1 to prevent water from entering their system. WBWCD anticipates their system will be fully pressurized and available for use by April 15, 2024. Residents are advised not to utilize their secondary irrigation water until their landscaping requires it.