Malad City Encourages Water Conservation During Drought Conditions

For many years, Malad City has implemented seasonal watering restrictions for city water users. While a few residents have access to secondary water, most households rely on the city’s culinary (drinking) water supply for outdoor needs such as lawns, gardens, trees, and flower beds.

At this time, the U.S. Drought Monitor has classified all of Oneida County as being in severe drought conditions. Current forecasts indicate above-normal temperatures and below-normal precipitation over the next three months. While weather conditions can always change, it is important that we plan ahead and use our water resources wisely.

Malad City is asking all residents to begin conserving water now and to make water-saving practices a priority both outdoors and indoors. By working together, we can help protect our water supply for homes, farms, and the community as a whole.

Indoor Water Conservation Tips

Simple changes inside the home can make a big difference:

• Turn off the faucet while brushing teeth.
• Don’t run tap water just to make it cold for drinking.
• Wash only full loads of laundry when possible.
• Avoid unnecessary toilet flushing.

Outdoor Watering Recommendations

At this time, residents may continue using culinary water for lawns and landscaping, though that could change later in the summer if drought conditions worsen.

Experts agree that watering lawns every day is not the best practice. Instead, lawns do better when watered deeply and less often, which encourages stronger root growth. In hot, high-desert climates, most lawns need about 1.5 to 2 inches of water per week, ideally spread over two to three watering sessions.

To determine how much water your sprinklers apply, place a small can in the yard while watering and measure the collected water. This can also help identify dry spots or uneven sprinkler coverage.

Please remember:

• Turn sprinklers off during rainstorms.
• Wait several days after rainfall before watering again.
• Water during cooler times of day to reduce evaporation.

Approved Watering Times

City watering hours are:

• 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
• 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Residents with automatic timed sprinkler systems may water during overnight hours.

Drip Irrigation Saves Water

Drip irrigation systems are highly recommended for gardens, trees, and flower beds because they deliver water directly to plant roots with minimal waste.

Deep Creek Secondary Water Users

Residents using the Deep Creek secondary system should know that the available supply may last approximately one month. Deep Creek plans to begin charging the within the next few weeks, with the system expected to be ready by mid-May. Malad City will announce when city connections are turned on.

Deep Creek users are strongly encouraged to conserve water carefully. The more each user conserves, the longer the available supply will last for everyone. Users should also never leave hoses running unattended, as this wastes water and reduces system pressure.

Working Together

Water conservation is a shared responsibility. By making thoughtful choices now, we can help ensure adequate water supplies for residents, agriculture, and the community throughout the summer season.