Water Conservation

In the arid west, water resources are an important topic. Drawing from a blend of surface water and ground water, we have been fortunate to have had so much water in the past. Although we are not in immediate risk of running out of drinking water, the state of Utah needs to continue to cut back their water use to ensure supplies last. Utah faces significant challenges in the near future as our population is expected to double by 2060. This means we will have to stretch our water supplies about twice as far as we do today to keep up with demand. Luckily, saving water can be easy and even fun. Below are some ways to start small to spur big changes to help keep Herriman a great place to live and grow.

What is Herriman doing to conserve water?

Herriman City is working to reduce water use through more efficient irrigation practices, water-wise development standards, landscape improvements, infrastructure upgrades, and public education efforts.

Featured water conservation projects

Two key examples of the City’s current water conservation efforts are the Main Street turf conversion project and the stormwater project at the front of City Hall. These projects reflect Herriman’s ongoing work to reduce water use, improve efficiency, and invest in more sustainable landscapes and infrastructure.

Irrigation Management & Monitoring

Perform weekly visual inspections of all irrigated areas to identify leaks, broken heads, and inefficiencies.
Conduct monthly irrigation audits to ensure proper distribution uniformity and minimize over-spray.
Utilize smart irrigation controllers with weather-based adjustments (ET controllers) to optimize watering schedules.
Ensure all flow sensors and master valves are fully operational to automatically shut off water in the event of system failures.
Implement centralized irrigation management systems where feasible to monitor and adjust systems remotely.
Continue coordination with the Herriman Water Department to track and manage overall system usage.
Staff will respond to any reported irrigation system damage or required adjustments within 72 hours.

Water Use Reduction Strategies

Limit irrigation in passive recreation areas to no more than 3 days per week.
Limit irrigation on sports fields and cemetery to no more than 5 days per week, adjusting for seasonal needs and turf health.
Incorporate cycle-and-soak irrigation methods to improve water infiltration and reduce runoff, especially on slopes.
Adjust irrigation schedules seasonally to avoid watering during peak evaporation periods (daytime watering).

Turf & Landscape Management

Maintain turf mowing heights at:
- 3 inches (sports fields)
- 3.5 inches (passive areas)
to promote deeper root growth and improved drought tolerance.
Prioritize soil health improvements including aeration, topdressing, dethatching, and proper fertilization to increase water retention.
Gradually convert low-use turf areas to water-wise landscaping (native grasses, xeriscape, or ornamental beds).
Identify and reduce non-functional turf areas where irrigation can be minimized or eliminated.

Infrastructure & System Improvements

Replace outdated irrigation components with high-efficiency nozzles, pressure-regulated heads, and drip irrigation systems where appropriate.
Continue upgrading to modern, water-efficient controllers and system components.
Use secondary water exclusively where available and appropriate.
Design and retrofit systems to reduce overspray onto sidewalks, streets, and non-landscaped areas.

Planning & Development Standards

Ensure all new park development projects comply with adopted Water Efficiency Standards.
Incorporate low-water-use plant palettes and drought-tolerant species in all new and renovated landscapes.
Design parks with hydrozoning principles, grouping plants with similar water needs.
Evaluate park designs to balance usable turf areas with sustainable landscaping practices.

Operations & Staff Practices

Provide ongoing staff training, including the Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper (QWEL) certification, on water-efficient irrigation practices and system management.
Schedule irrigation during optimal hours (early morning/night) to reduce evaporation loss.
Implement preventative maintenance schedules to ensure systems operate efficiently.
Track and document water usage trends to inform decision-making and improvements.

Public Leadership & Demonstrating Commitment

To further demonstrate Herriman City’s commitment to water conservation, the Parks Department will:

Publicly share annual water usage data and reduction goals to promote transparency.
Participate in and promote state and regional water conservation initiatives.
Highlight water-saving efforts through city communications, website updates, and social media.
Serve as a model for residents and HOAs by showcasing best practices in highly visible park spaces.
Explore opportunities for pilot projects such as drought-tolerant demonstration gardens or reduced-irrigation test areas.

Water Conservation Incentives for Landscaping

Several incentives for water-efficient landscaping are available through Utah Waver Savers. As of March 2024, all local water efficiency incentives from various agencies have been moved into this single Landscape Incentives Program.

A summary of the program:

Homeowners may receive $3 per square foot to replace an existing lawn area with water-wise landscaping (commercial and institutional properties may receive $2 per square foot).

Treebate add-on: Homeowners can receive $100 per tree for up to 5 trees when planted in conjunction with a turf conversion project.

Switch to Drip: Homeowners can receive $0.50 per square foot to convert planting beds watered with spray irrigation to drip irrigation.
Localscapes principles are encouraged as a best practice with the landscape incentive program.

Irrigation Tips

Follow these five simple steps to improve irrigation efficiency:

Experiment with irrigation run times and frequency
Although the closest climate station which collects information to generate the recommended weekly watering guide is located in Daybreak, every landscape may vary. Consider setting your irrigation system to run a minimal amount. If you see that parts of your landscape are not sufficiently watered, only then should you increase watering events. Try to follow the watering guide as close as possible. If you see that there are spots which require more water, briefly water them with a garden hose rather than running an additional cycle.
Check in on your sprinkler system sprays/rotors
When you turn your system on for the year, and periodically throughout the summer months, spend a few minutes ensuring that all of the sprayers are only watering plans and lawns. Nozzles can get bend over time and may need to be popped back into place.
Adjust timers and zones to water based on need
Lawn areas require more water than shrubs and herbs. If your irrigation system has the ability to set different watering zones, place planting beds to run for shorter amounts of time and less frequently than lawn areas.
If it goes in easily, it's to soon to water
Using a screwdriver, pen, or pencil gently slide the pointy end into your lawn area. If the screwdriver goes in smoothly without much effort the soil is still moist, and does not need to be watered. Check back every couple of days to determine when it's time to water.
Raise your mower
Strong roots are crucial for plant health. Reducing over watering and raising your mower blades to 3-4" will shade your soil. This will reduce evaporation and create a more resilient root system network, enabling your landscape to stay healthy during drought.

Did you know that the average lawn receives two to three times more water than it needs to flourish? If just 75% of homeowners water their landscapes based on its actual water requirements, Herriman City and Salt Lake County can easily achieve our water conservation goals.

How to avoid overwatering based on local conditions

There are several ways to avoid overwatering your landscape. Using multiple options may maximize conservation efforts.

Fixture rebates offered through UtahWaterSavers.com
Smart controllers automatically pair with the closet climate station, and automate your sprinkler system to a water efficient schedule. Sprinkler systems can be adjusted from your smart phone.
Conduct a simple sprinkler performance test using catch cans
Sprinkler performance tests aim to determine the precipitation rate of your sprinklers. The precipitation rate will tell you how long to run your sprinkler zones to match the amount of water your landscape requires to stay healthy.
Use a drip irrigation system to water plant beds
Switching to drip is quick, easy, and inexpensive. Drip irrigation is a very efficient way to water plantings beds and trees because it reduces the amount of evaporation, eliminating water waste.
Consider replacing non-functional turf with low water use plants
Non-functional turf refers to any area of grass that is only stepped on to mow or weed eat. Redesigning a landscape can be a daunting task. Luckily, there is a lot of support and resources out there to help you get the process started.

The Localscapes rewards program (including "Flip Your Strip") provides design direction to help you transform your property into a water efficient landscape. The Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District has created an excellent resource for everything related to outdoor water savings. Visit localscapes.com to see extensive plant catalogs, landscape plans, and have all your landscaping questions answered.

As the state's population grows and weather fluctuates, water conservation is increasingly important. Conserving water in your home will help reduce strain on public water systems and allow for more water storage ensuring that there will always be enough drinking water to go around.

Great Salt Lake

While maintaining sufficient reservoir levels is critical, so is allowing water into our streams, rivers, and lakes to support essential ecosystem services. The Great Salt Lake contributes greatly to Utah's hydrologic cycle by providing a warm environment where water condenses into the lower atmosphere before being returned as snow in the Wasatch and Uintah mountain ranges. Considering that the majority of our water sources are dependent on this "lake effect," it is very important that we consider how to preserve these natural systems so that we may continue to live a healthy life in such a beautiful place.

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Water Conservation

What is Herriman doing to conserve water?

Featured water conservation projects

Utah DNR Weekly Lawn Watering Guide

Water Conservation Incentives for Landscaping

Irrigation Tips

How to avoid overwatering based on local conditions

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