Test Your LPP IQ

False.

Despite being in the hottest and driest part of the state, Washington County has a lower per capita water use than many other counties in Utah. Washington County has aggressively and successfully pursued conservation for many years and was the first Utah county to meet the governor’s statewide water conservation goal of reducing water use 25 percent. A recent audit conducted by a nationally recognized water conservation expert concludes that the Washington County Water Conservancy District’s conservation program is “on par with other notable programs in the western United States and exceeds those of other entities of a similar size and customer base.”

False.

Costs of implementing extreme conservation measures are comparable with the cost estimates to build the Lake Powell Pipeline. A comprehensive cost analysis of extreme conservation estimated an investment of more than $1.5 billion by water users. Mandated conservation includes lawn and landscape removal; replacement hardscapes; ordinance enforcement; and buying, and delivering alternative water supplies. Implementing such a program would likely result in adverse socioeconomic and negative environmental consequences and impacts. It also fails to bring in a needed second source of water for Washington County.

Meeting southern Utah’s future water needs requires a comprehensive plan that includes more conservation and reuse, development of local supplies, free market agricultural transfers and building the LPP.

False.

Much of Washington County’s agricultural water has already been converted to municipal use. The state estimates that approximately 3,500 to 5,900 additional acre feet of water could possibly be available for purchase in the future. This is well short of the water needed to meet anticipated demands. In addition, converting most of the available agricultural water to municipal use will require an expensive treatment process to bring it to drinking water standards.

Agriculture is part of Utah’s heritage and a major contributor to the state’s economy. For this reason, it is not in the state’s interest to force farmers to give up their water rights and dry up farms. When farmers want to sell their rights, they can be sold and bought on a free market basis.

True.

Most of southern Utah’s population and economy relies on a sole source of water and a single water delivery system. The LPP will bring a second, reliable water source to the communities; improve resource and delivery system reliability and enhance local storage.

False.

The majority of future residents will be current residents’ children and grandchildren who choose to remain in the area to raise their families. Approximately 70% of Utah’s growth is internal. These residents will require water for economic vitality, jobs and to sustain their quality of life. There is no convenient switch that can be flipped to stop growth. Instead, water providers must plan for and manage current and future growth to ensure a high quality of life for residents.

False.

The Washington County Water Conservancy District has developed a general capital project funding strategy to phase in water rates, impact fees and property tax increases to produce sufficient revenue to repay the state. If fully implemented, this strategy has the capacity to generate an additional $6.12 billion in revenue through 2060 for infrastructure projects, including the LPP.

False.

The Washington County Water Conservancy District’s general capital project funding strategy indicates that the majority of LPP repayment (75%) will come from impact fees – one-time fees collected from those who are developing property that depends on the district to provide water; 15% of funding will come from water rates and 10% from property taxes.

There is not a set fee-per-person cost for the LPP; everyone will pay a proportionate share based on their water use, property value and if they are a new or existing connection on the water system. This approach equitably distributes the project cost on those who will need and use the water.

True.

Most communities borrow money from the state or federal government to finance water infrastructure projects. During the past 70 years, Utah has been involved in the financing of nearly 1,500 water projects. The state has provided more than a $1 billion through its revolving loan program – all loans have been repaid.

False.

Most western states allow the collection of taxes to fund water projects, including California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming and Idaho. Collecting taxes for water is common for most water suppliers in the west. Approximately 10% of LPP costs will be funded through property taxes versus 75% from impact fees on new development and 15% from water rates.

True.

Other proposals cost more, provide less water and fail to bring a second source of water to the community. Without the LPP, Washington County would need to pursue more expensive options that couldn’t yield the same amount or quality of water. These include:

• Reusing wastewater for residential indoor use
• Investing in expensive and environmentally challenging reverse osmosis treatment.
• Accelerating the purchase of agricultural water rights and drying up farms.
• Mandating conservation that would severely restrict outdoor watering, which would adversely impact the region’s economy, environment, quality of life and tourism.

Together, these efforts would produce less water at a higher cost than the LPP.

False.

In both wet and dry cycles over the past century, the Colorado River has always provided enough water to meet established uses and compact requirements.

Modeling conducted by Bureau of Reclamation in August 2018, taking into account future water uses in the Upper Basin including the LPP, indicates a near 0 percent probability of a declared 1922 Compact shortage for the Upper Basin through the year 2050, presuming hydrology remains similar to what the basin has experienced over the last 100 years. On the other hand, if the future hydrology of the basin is similar to drier, hotter climate change predictions, more closely resembling the last 30 years including historic drought, the risk of a declared 1922 Compact shortage rises to less than 13 percent through the year 2050. Any shortages in the Colorado River system would be shared by the basin states.

False.

The LPP is being built because Utah needs the water it rightfully owns. It will divert water only when it is lawful to do so. In addition to diversifying its water supply, Utah must have water available to meet future demand. Washington County is projected to grow 229 percent by 2065. Most local water resources are fully developed, necessitating another source. The LPP will more than double the county’s current water supply.

True.

Utah is not using all the water it is allocated from the Colorado River. Currently the state uses about 1 million acre feet annually, including evaporation and system loss. Utah’s surplus water supply currently flows downstream. The LPP will use only a small portion of Utah’s Colorado River Compact allocation.

False.

The LPP will use only a small portion of Utah’s Colorado River Compact allocation. Potential impacts to Lake Powell, the downstream environment, or other water users from Lake Powell diversions have been studied and found to be minimal.

True.

The river is prone to drought – 18 out of the past 22 years have been ones of drought. If water quality or quantity problems arise with that one source, it places communities at great risk. The LPP introduces an additional water source, the Colorado River, helping to ensure uninterrupted water delivery to homes and businesses now and in the future.