HomeMy WebLinkAboutLegislative Version Ordinance - 3/24/2026
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SALT LAKE CITY ORDINANCE 1
No. _____ of 2026 2
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(Amending the text of Title 17 of the Salt Lake City Code pertaining to limits on daily water use 4
for new commercial, industrial, and institutional developments) 5
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An ordinance amending Title 17 of the Salt Lake City Code pertaining to limits on daily 7
water usage for new commercial, industrial, and institutional developments. 8
WHEREAS, the city provides drinking water to nearly 386,000 people and has seen 9
significant commercial, industrial and institutional development in the past 10 years; 10
WHEREAS, current snowpack conditions are at only 60% of the median for this point in 11
the season; 12
WHEREAS, current data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture indicates that 13
statewide snowpack is at the worst levels ever recorded since data has been collected; 14
WHEREAS, the city’s ability to provide water service is directly impacted by such 15
snowpack conditions; 16
WHEREAS, decreased snowpack also decreases the amount of water reaching the Great 17
Salt Lake and exposed lakebed poses risks to human health through dust inhalation and exposure 18
to dust-borne contaminants such as heavy metals; 19
WHEREAS, immediate steps are appropriate to limit use of the city’s water resources by 20
water consumers that would consume very large quantities of water that would exacerbate the 21
pressures on the city’s water resources and the Great Salt Lake system; 22
WHEREAS, this measure is intended to place reasonable limits on new development or 23
enlargements to existing development to protect and preserve the availability of the city to 24
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provide water to its current customers and to future development in the city’s water service area 25
that will promote public health, safety and general welfare; 26
WHEREAS, the Salt Lake City Council has determined that the following ordinance 27
promotes the health, safety, and public welfare of the citizens of the city; and 28
WHEREAS, the City Council has determined that adopting this ordinance is in the city’s 29
best interests. 30
NOW, THEREFORE, be it ordained by the City Council of Salt Lake City, Utah: 31
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SECTION 1. Amending Subsection 17.16.010.C of the Salt Lake City Code. That 33
Subsection 17.16.010.C of the Salt Lake City Code (Public Services: Culinary Water System: 34
Furnishing of Water; Application Required), is hereby amended as follows: 35
C. The City will deny water service in the City's designated water service area and areas 36
where the City is providing water under surplus water sales agreements under the following 37
conditions: 38
1. New development: Any new commercial or industrialnon-residential development that 39
consumes or uses more than an annual average of two hundred thousand (200,000) gallons of 40
potable water per day within the City's designated water service area and under circumstances 41
where the City is providing water under a surplus water sales agreement. The use and 42
consumption limit is based on the total use from all water meters that serve the new 43
development. 44
2. Expansions of Existing Uses: Any commercial or industrialnon-residential development 45
that expands to an extent that increases its daily potable water consumption or use to exceed an 46
annual average of two hundred thousand (200,000) gallons of potable water per day. 47
Notwithstanding the provisions of the City Code, an existing water customer that currently 48
exceeds the water use threshold of two hundred thousand (200,000) gallons of potable water per 49
day will not receive water service from the City if the expansion will result in a net increase in 50
water consumption or use. The use and consumption limit is based on the total use from all water 51
meters that serve the water customer. 52
3. The Director of the Department of Public Utilities may also deny water service to a new 53
or existing water customer for water use that exceeds an average of two hundred thousand 54
(200,000) gallons of potable water per day over less than a year, if the proposed use would 55
exceed the anticipated water availably for a particular location within the City's designated water 56
service area or within areas where the City is providing water under surplus water sales 57
agreements. 58
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4. Water Use Report Required: A new or existing water customer shall certify the 59
anticipated daily water use of a proposed development or expansion of existing use in a manner 60
satisfactory to the Department of Public Utilities. The Department of Public Utilities may require 61
an anticipated daily water use report of any water customer for a new use or expansion of an 62
existing use. 63
5. Exemption: Agricultural, residential, and institutional water customers are not subject to 64
the regulations of this subsection. For purposes of this section, an institutional water customer 65
includesschools, government owned or operated facilities that primarily provide social services, 66
places of worship, and hospitals. 67
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SECTION 2. Effective Date. This Ordinance shall take effect immediately after it has 69
been published in accordance with Utah Code § 10-3-711 and recorded in accordance with Utah 70
Code § 10-3-713. 71
Passed by the City Council of Salt Lake City, Utah, this ______ day of ______________, 72
2026. 73
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______________________________ 75
Alejandro Puy, Council Chair 76
ATTEST: 77
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______________________________ 79
Keith Reynolds, City Recorder 80
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Transmitted to Mayor on _______________________. 82
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Mayor's Action: _______Approved. _______Vetoed. 85
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______________________________ 88
Erin Mendenhall, Mayor 89
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______________________________ 93
Keith Reynolds, City Recorder 94
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(SEAL) 96
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Bill No. ________ of 2026. 98
Published: ______________. 99
Ordinance Amending Daily Water Cap 100
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