Public works director says springs currently meeting culinary demand; summer irrigation may double usage

Corey Hatch, Manti's public works director, briefed the council on April 15 about the city's water system and the outdoor watering outlook for 2026, telling the council the mountain springs that supply most culinary water are currently producing adequately but summer irrigation will raise demand.

"In the last few days, we've used about 500 to 525,000 gallons of water a day for culinary use," Hatch said, and noted the town typically sees a peak close to 1,200,000 gallons per day in the high season. He said the city ran its backup well recently to test operations and that sample results have been good.

Hatch explained that pressurized irrigation and irrigation timing affect culinary demand in spring, and that the Division of Drinking Water requires turning out Big Spring and Sister Spring on June 1 (they will remain out until Oct. 15). He said that once the planned water treatment plant is built, the city will be able to utilize all spring flow without turning out those springs and that treated water is more expensive to use for irrigation than pure spring flow.

Hatch urged residents to adopt conservation practices and to wait to water until the pressurized irrigation system is operating. Staff will post the outdoor watering guidelines on the city website and make printed copies available at the city office.

The council asked whether increased culinary watering could affect fire hydrant pressure; Hatch said the city's backup wells and spring production should meet needs without degrading hydrant availability unless spring production drops unusually low. Council members thanked Hatch and encouraged public awareness of the posted watering guidance.