Utah guidance: exempt secondary water providers must submit conservation plans and undergo annual evaluations

An agency official outlined requirements for secondary water providers in Utah that declare exemption from metering under Utah Code 73-10-34, subsections 9 and 10, saying those providers must submit water conservation plans and participate in annual evaluations.

The official said providers who declare the exemption must file a conservation plan describing how they will conserve water without meters no later than six months after declaring the exemption. At the end of the irrigation season, providers will receive a self-evaluation survey asking for estimated water-use numbers, conservation metrics, the challenges they faced, and proposed improvements.

Division staff will then evaluate the provider’s self-assessment alongside data from the Division of Water Rights. The agency said it will complete those evaluations by Feb. 1. Based on the self-assessment and staff review, the division may recommend changes to a provider’s conservation plan; any recommended changes must be submitted by March 15.

The guidance cites the providers’ exemption under Utah Code 73-10-34, subsections 9 and 10, as the legal basis for the evaluation requirement. The official closed the statement by thanking providers for conservation efforts, noting, “Every drop counts.” For questions the division provided an email contact: secondarymeter info@utah.gov.

The division presented the timeline and deadlines as administrative requirements rather than proposals for rule changes; the announcement did not record a vote, formal order, or any exceptions to the submission or revision deadlines.