Environmental Issues

Water management and conservation is vital for our future as water is a scarce natural resource. As the Division of Water Resources of Sandy City says, we should use water judiciously to save for our tomorrow, to protect the environment and also to save money on water bills (Division of Water Resources, n.d.).

The Council of Sandy City has taken various initiatives to motivate its residents to conserve water and reduce its wastage. Some of these steps include encouraging water efficient landscaping, passing water ordinances, and maintaining a web site offering water conservation tips to the residents (Sandy City, 2008).

The Council of Sandy City passed two water ordinances in 2008 to promote the efficient use of water in the city. These are Time of Day ordinance and Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance. Time of Day ordinance allows the use of sprinklers for the irrigation of landscapes only after 6 p.m. and before 10 a.m. A cooler time of the day is best for irrigation since it prevents water loss due to evaporation and winds. However, this ordinance states that anyone who will violate will receive a class B misdemeanor citation (Sandy City Municipal Code 14-2-3, n.d.). The second ordinance, Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance, was passed to make sure that every new landscape should be water-efficient. It also applies to reconstructed landscapes but not to single family homes. Failure to comply with this ordinance will be issued a class C misdemeanor citation (Sandy City Municipal Code 15-41-6, n.d.). These ordinances were needed by Sandy City due to the drought situation that the residents have faced over the past three years. Since Utah is considered as one of the driest and fastest growing states in the United States, the demand for water supply is also high, so there is a great need to conserve (Sandy City, 2008).

Sandy City promotes the importance of keeping their storm water drainages clean at all times. Generally, storm water in the form of sleet, hail or snow, runs off from the gutters of houses through the storm drainages together with pollutants, including sediments, toxins, and trash. Public utility crews ensure that storm water drainages are clean and free from water pollutants while the residents do their best to keep trash off their gutters (Sandy City, n.d.).
 
Sandy City also promotes the use of low water plants and demonstrates the same in its famous water efficient landscape, the Sego Lily Gardens. These gardens house numerous low water plants and different irrigation systems that save water. People can have a look at these plants and plant them in their homes to save water used for watering the plants (Sandy City, 2009).

Water supply is dipping day by day while demand is increasing exponentially. It is now time to act and save this precious gift of nature vital for our existence. Residents must cooperate with the government and help protect the environment.