Utah Gov. Spencer Cox has issued an executive order requiring water conservation at state facilities with the goal of increasing Utah’s drought resiliency.
Utah is one of the driest states in the nation; in fact, some portions of the state have experienced drought conditions nearly every year since 2000.
Under Executive Order 2023-07, each state agency will assess its compliance with water conservation requirements for state facilities. Most of the measures cover landscape irrigation, including limits on new lawn or turf areas and a 25% reduction of outdoor water usage by the end of fiscal year 2026.
The order directs state agencies to coordinate with the Division of Facilities Construction and Management and the Division of Water Resources to implement and follow those requirements, as well as to follow the Division of Water Resources’ weekly watering guide.
“While we are thankful for the record-breaking snowpack we received this season, we have to keep up the good work of conserving this precious natural resource,” said Cox. “Maintaining and expanding existing water-saving measures will only increase Utah’s ability to grow sustainably.”
Executive Order 2023-07 is effective immediately and will remain in effect until it’s no longer needed, according to the governor’s office.