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ST. GEORGE — One of Utah's — and the nation's — fastest-growing areas is banning "nonfunctional grass" at any new commercial, institutional and industrial developments, limiting grass at new homes under a new ordinance.
Washington County Water Conservancy District announced the new changes Wednesday, which also bars new golf courses unless the developers can provide their own nonpotable water source for irrigation and require secondary and reused water for outdoor irrigation "where available," a practice the county already used for parks, government facilities and some residential neighborhoods.
The new ordinance is projected to help conserve nearly 11 billion gallons of water over the next decade, according to the district.
"We can't risk running out of water. Prolonged drought has threatened our only water source," said Zach Renstrom, general manager of the Washington County Water Conservancy District, in a statement. "We have to make changes to how our community uses its water to protect our economy and quality of life."
Other new requirements listed include:
- Hot water recirculation systems
- Water-sense labeled fixtures
- EnergyStar appliances
- Submetering of multi-unit facilities
- Restrictions on water features including misting systems
- Water budgets for golf courses
- Limits on water used by car wash facilities
Every respective municipality in the county will enforce its new ordinance, district officials added. It's up to cities to review any water waste complaints and monitor metering data, as well as issue any penalties to customers who don't comply with the ordinance.
The district said an additional fee for "higher water use" will be charged beginning in 2023 with the hope that it will help encourage compliance. Money generated from those fees will go toward water conservation programs, such as providing rebates to allow residents to replace grass with water-efficient landscaping.
St. George, the county's largest city, is the fastest-growing metro area in the nation, according to 2021 population estimates released by the Census Bureau earlier this year. The entire county experienced a 6.1% jump in population to a little over 190,000 overall, the bureau added. That growth follows a 30% jump in population between the 2010 and 2020 censuses.
But the area has also come under fire for its water practices, especially for a county that has experienced drought conditions in 16 of the last 20 years — and is currently listed in extreme drought by the U.S. Drought Monitor.
For example, comedian John Oliver singled out the St. George area in a segment about water use in the West on "Last Week Tonight" back in June, calling out its desert golf courses and the controversial Lake Powell Pipeline project, which would send water from the struggling Lake Powell to southwest Utah.
However, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said he commends the county's new ordinance and its efforts to cut back water use. In a statement Wednesday, the governor said that it helps set a "higher development standard in the state."
"Our future depends on every community in Utah making water conservation a top priority," he added.
