According to separate research studies conducted by USU and BYU, the 20th century featured historically anomalous wet periods in our state. The researchers, whose data is based on tree ring and lake sediment records, estimate that the coming years will be plagued by severe dryness, the likes of which not seen in recent memory.
You might not realize it now, but 95 percent of the state is in a moderate drought, 13 percent is in a severe drought, and two percent is in an extreme drought. Average snowpack across the state — which is a good indicator for how much water we can expect to have in the summer — sits at a measly 75 percent of capacity. In addition to lower-than-average snowfall, temperatures have been unusually high this winter. The coupling of these curious weather patterns spells for a disturbingly dry summer, which will likely be accompanied by inadequate outdoor water use restrictions. However, limitations on when we can sprinkle our perennially thirsty, unnaturally green lawns won’t be enough to save us from severe water shortages. If we are to conserve our water during an imminent stage of scarcity, we ought to get rid of grassy lawns altogether, among other parasitic water practices.
Utah is the second driest state in the country, yet it also ranks second in per capita water use — an ominous statistic. Population increases don’t help either. In 1790, Utah was home to fewer than 100,000 people. By 1900 the population had swelled to 276,749, and today it’s swarming with nearly 3 million and counting. The population boom has coincided with a wonderfully wet cycle that has been relatively devoid of droughts. In addition to enticing flocks of inhabitants, this period of plentiful precipitation has facilitated the growth of our burgeoning ski/outdoor recreation industry and, by extension, our economy. Utah was built in, on and for an epoch of excess moisture — an epoch that appears to be coming to an end. We have been spoiled by the age of abundance, and if we are to survive the upcoming season of scarcity, we will have to make some serious adjustments to the way we use our water.
The reason Utahns use so much water is because we live in a desert, and for some bizarre reason, everyone has agreed to pretend we don’t. It is outrageously inefficient to water our imported green grass-carpeted yards. Most of the water we use for landscaping runs down the street or seeps deep into the soil, and the rest of it is pretty much also wasted being guzzled by grasses and shrubs that never seem to quench their thirst. And for what? I really don’t know. I’ve never understood the people who pride themselves on maintaining their precious plants. I suppose it boils down to the specious appearance of opulence. Who wants to live in a house with a dull-colored lawn? What does that say about the inhabitant? Well, it says that they are smart enough to know where they are, which is in a desert. Get rid of the grass.
But it isn’t just inconsiderate individuals who are leeching ludicrous amounts of water. The NSA facility in Bluffdale uses 1.2 to 1.7 million gallons every single day in order to cool its cadre of super-secret supercomputers. That is disgusting. Additionally, our beloved ski resorts sap up insane amounts of water, which is used as ammo for their snow cannons. Ironically, the less snow and water we have, the more water the resorts feel they have to use in order to artificially powder their mountains.
In summation, we have too many people wasting too much water, and as we enter this new decade of drought, we should seriously start to prepare for perilous, imminent deficits.