Water conservationists encourage turning off your sprinklers as rain is finally here

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah is getting a much-needed reprieve from a long dry spell this summer. From northern Utah to southern Utah, scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected for the next couple of days.

Aside from the cooler temperatures this storm system will bring, water conservationists are celebrating the chance to build up our water levels. But they know it’s not a guarantee that this rain will make a dent in the drought.

“It’ll help with water conservation if people pay attention and turn off their sprinklers,” said Dagny Signorelli, Wyoming and Utah state director of the Western Watersheds Project.

Read more: 1 injured in large fire at Eagle Mountain condominium

Because of the state’s dry spell, people have been watering their lawns more often than normal to keep them alive. If people turn off their sprinklers, they could conserve up to an inch per lawn over the next few days.

“Conserving one inch of water on every lawn would be massive. That would be huge,” Signorelli said.

Signorelli hopes that since more and more people have smart sprinkler systems, conservation will be easier than ever.

“You can set your irrigation systems to turn off with the rain. If you turn that feature on, it will sense humidity in the air,” Signorelli said.

Signorelli also hopes that businesses and farms will get on board with conserving this week.

Read more: Month-long evacuation orders lifted for owners impacted by Monroe Canyon Fire

A lot of water is used to water grass at commercial properties that never get walked on. If building owners are mindful of the forecast, it will increase the amount of water that can reach our reservoirs.

Agricultural water is also a significant drain on Utah’s water supply. Even if they just shorten their watering times this week, that could save a large amount of water.