U.S. Water News Online
LEHI, Utah -- An official is calling it a "water war."
Two Utah County communities are claiming their supplies will be diminished if the state allows new wells to be drilled by Salt Lake County-based water agencies.
"We found they are proposing to pump more water out of the county than is used by all the (northern Utah County) cities combined," said Barry Edwards, Highland city administrator.
The state is considering a request by the Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District and the East Jordan Irrigation Co. to drill six wells in Utah County.
"It's a real water war," said Lorin Powell, Lehi city engineer. "It's going to be a travesty if it is not stopped. It would drastically affect our ability to use and obtain water from that groundwater strata."
Ten years ago, the Jordan Valley district filed applications to drill wells but retreated after the state received 700 letters of protest.
The district, which says its rights date back to 1870, now believes it can no longer wait.
The district acknowledged it has the right to send the water to Salt Lake County but said most of it would be used in the Utah County sections of Draper, where 5,000 homes are expected to be built.
Lehi and Highland mailed thousands of letters to residents asking them to write the state and oppose the wells.
"It's going to lower the aquifer, and it's going to cost more money to get water out of the ground," Edwards said.
John Mann of the state Engineer's Office said the impact on water users will be evaluated.
More than 10 years ago, the Jordan Valley district began purchasing land in Highland, Alpine and Orem, said Richard Bay, chief engineer.
The cities knew the district had first right to the water and intended to drill wells, he said, adding that a study to be released in 2007 will show there is enough for everyone.
"We recognize the need to be a good neighbor and don't want to frustrate the long-term needs of the cities," Bay said.
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