As the City continues to grow and more customers are requiring water service, the City will need to evaluate its future sources to adequately meet that demand. The City will likely need to pursue multiple sources in order to meet the future demands, including wells, JVWCD contract adjustments, and secondary water.
As discussed previously, the City is limited in the amount of groundwater that can be pumped in the area. Drilling additional wells will not grow the annual supply much, but it can help increase the peak capacity. Well 8 has recently been drilled and will need to be equipped in the near future. It is anticipated that this well will add 500 gpm of peak capacity. After this well is completed, the City can expect a peak capacity of approximately 4,925 gpm when all wells are in operation. This is the value that will be used for the supply and demand analysis starting in 2022.
Currently the City receives a large majority of its supply from JVWCD and it is possible that contract adjustments may be able to be made that increase this amount in the future. In discussions between the City and JVWCD, JVWCD has indicated that they will be able to supply future needs. However, as water demands continue to increase throughout the Salt Lake Valley for a decreasing supply of available water, it is anticipated that the cost of water from JVWCD will also increase. In addition, the City will need to coordinate with JVWCD to make sure that water can be delivered to the City when and where it is needed.
In addition to the new culinary sources available, the City should consider additional methods which may help the City meet future demands. There are a few ways that this can be done:
• Convert major outdoor water users, such as parks and schools, to secondary water. While this does not increase the culinary water supply, it does reduce demand, allowing that culinary water supply to be available for other uses.
• Increase conservation efforts. By reducing water needs for both existing and future users, the water supply will be able to serve more people.
• Consider opportunities for water re-use in partnership with the South Valley Water Reclamation Facility, JVWCD, or other nearby cities.
Table 3-3 summarizes the existing and potential supplies that the City may be able to use to meet its future demands.
Source | Reliable Annual Capacity (acre-ft) | Reliable Peak Capacity (MGD) |
Source | Reliable Annual Capacity (acre-ft) | Reliable Peak Capacity (MGD) |
Existing | ||
West Jordan Wells | 2,500 | 6.4 |
JVWCD Contract | 20,000 | 70.5 |
JVWCD Purchase Option (Additional 20 Percent) | 4,000 | - |
Subtotal - Existing | 26,500 | 76.9 |
Future | ||
Well 8 | - | 0.7 |
Total | 26,500 | 77.6 |