Davis County homeowners asked to let lawns go brown

FARMINGTON – Homeowners in Farmington, Kaysville and Fruit Heights are being warned about a potentially big water problem.  They’re encouraging residents to let their lawns go brown.

If the Benchland Water District doesn’t see a 35 percent reduction in their irrigation water use, they might not have available water after September first.  So, they’re imposing restrictions.

“First of all, no watering from Saturday morning at 8 a.m. until Monday morning at 8 a.m.  None.” according to District Trustee Paul Hirst, adding that no one will be allowed to water on weekdays between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Benchland depends on water from mountain runoff, which has been very little this year.  Hirst says they normally have to buy water from the Weber Basin Conservancy district in July, but, this year they had to do it in May because the winter was so dry.

Hirst is concerned that if irrigation water runs out, people may try to water their lawns in different ways.

“The first thing they’ll turn to is their culinary water connection, and they’ll say, ‘Well, there’s water there.  I can connect to my house spigot and water my lawn,” he says.

The culinary water in Farmington is provided to homeowners by the city, but, Hirst warns the Farmington City system is, in no way, capable of handling irrigation needs.

“Farmington is capable of producing three million gallons a day.  Benchland Water provides up to 30 million gallons per day,” Hirst says.

The district hasn’t focused a lot on patrolling their customers, but, they’re going to step up their efforts.  The first violation will cost $50, the second will cost $250.  A customer will be disconnected from the system on their third offense.