CHAPTER 3
WATER SUPPLY PROJECTIONS

This chapter will describe the City's sources and discuss the adequacy of existing and future supplies to meet the projected demand discussed in Chapter 2. This chapter focuses on overall yields and capacity of existing and future sources.

3.1 WATER SUPPLY - EXISTING SOURCES

The City's existing water supply comes from two main sources, the Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District (JVWCD) and West Jordan City wells.

3.1.1 JORDAN VALLEY WATER CONSERVANCY DISTRICT SUPPLY

JVWCD provides water to multiple entities throughout the Salt Lake Valley, including the City of West Jordan. The City's contracted supply amount is equal to 20,000 acre-ft per year which the City takes year-round. Historically, JVWCD has allowed the City (and all its customers) to purchase additional water in any given year of up to 20 percent above its contract amount. If this additional purchase option is included, the total volume of water available from JVWCD is 24,000 acre-ft/year. Table 3-1 summarizes the City's existing connections to the JVWCD system.

Table 3-1
Existing JVWCD Connections

JVWCD Zone	Address	JVWCD Pipe Size (inch)	Meter Size (inch)	City Pressure Zone	Contract Capacity - Daily Flow Rate (GPM)	Connection Capacity (gpm)
Non-Pumped Zone A
	3600 West 7800 South	78	30	1	11,285	15,500
	3600 West 7000 South	78	12	1	1,603	4,200
	3600 West 9000 South	78	10	1	1,973	3,800
	6400 South 1700 West	33	10	1	1,480	4,800
	6400 South 1700 West	33	6	1	0	0
Pumped Zone B South	5600 West 10200 South	24	12	2	1,850	6,000
Pumped Zone B North	3655 West 6200 South	30	8	2	308	3,265
	3200 West 7100 South	36	12	2	123	1,410
	3200 West 7800 South	36	12	2	1,233	1,233
	3200 West 8867 South	36	12	2	1,480	3,800
Pumped Zone C South	6100 West 10200 South	42	14	4	2,715	2,715
Pumped Zone D South	6950 West 10200 South	42	12	6	1,480	1,480
	8400 West New Bingham Highway	42	24	6	735	735
Total					26,265	48,938
Contract Volume (acre-ft)	20,000
20% Additional Option (acre-ft)	4,000

 

In the past, JVWCD has always been able to deliver the full amount of the City's contract, even in drought years. However, JVWCD has recently updated its Drought Contingency Plan to include drought mitigation and response actions for each community within its service area. This will be discussed further in Chapter 4.

3.1.2 WEST JORDAN WELLS

The City has four active culinary wells, with an additional well in construction, that it uses to supplement the water that is taken from JVWCD. The City also has additional wells that are used for secondary uses, which are not included in this analysis. The culinary wells are used in conjunction with the JVWCD connections to meet the City's water needs. In an effort to reduce peaking charges from JVWCD the wells are of particular importance during peak demand. Potential yield (annual) and capacity (peak) associated with each of the wells is summarized in Table 3-2.

Table 3-2
Existing Wells

 

Name	Potential Yield at Maximum Production 1 (acre-ft)	Historic 2 Maximum Yield (acre-ft)	Estimated Capacity 3 (gpm)	City Pressure Zone
Well No. 3	758	360	470	4
Well No. 4	2,557	1,250	1,585	4
Well No. 5	1,686	780	1,045	3
Well No. 6	2,137	1,095	1,325	4
Total	7,944	3,485	4,425
1 Potential Yield assumes year-round operation of the wells at the estimated capacity 2 Based on 2012 - 2020 DWR data 3 Based on 2021 pumping data

 

City personnel report that they have water rights in excess of what has historically been used. With a potential yield at maximum production of approximately 7,944 acre-ft, the City has the well capacity to access more than the historic maximum yield of 3,485. However, there is concern regarding the health of the aquifer and water quality at high levels of utilization. The City is located near contaminated groundwater plumes in the principal aquifer of southwest Salt Lake County. This contamination was the result of historic mining activities in the Oquirrh Mountains. When the wells are operated at their full capacity for extended periods of time, City personnel have noticed the potential for significant water quality decreases as the contaminated plume is pulled closer to the City wells. Because of this, City staff has decided to limit their use of the wells to 2,000 to 3,000 acre- ft/year. For future planning purposes, a volume of 2,500 acre-ft/year will be used.