The Ivins City Council may take action tonight on the Water District’s goal to build a new reservoir in Ivins. The Council will also discuss adding conservation requirements for new commercial development tonight. I expect they will do the same for new residential construction soon. All of this is happening because we have a water problem. But are we acting, reacting, or panicking?
We do have a water problem. We need to take it seriously. And we need to take action as soon as possible to ensure we have a hydrated future. But we have not even analyzed how big the problem is for Ivins, when it is most likely to impact us, and what are all the tools we can use to solve the problem.
Do We Have Enough Water For More New Development?
The Water Conservancy District and Ivins both say we have enough water resources for at least a few more years of development. Here’s what I believe this means. Ivins has rights/agreements to 3,734 acre-feet of water a year. Last year we used 2,438 acre-feet. What’s left over can support about 2,100 more homes. That gives us enough water to build 262 homes a year for another 8 years. (Note: This excludes Kayenta development activity and its water resources.)
Risk Associated With Our Water Supply
Although Ivins has rights/agreements to 3,700 acre-feet of water a year, it doesn’t mean 3,700 acre-feet will be available each year. We are at the mercy of Mother Nature. So, there’s no guarantee the WCWCD, our wells, or rivers can deliver all that we are “entitled to” every year.
The City’s Public Works Department has suggested in its reports that we build in a 20% buffer to help mitigate any potential variability in water availability.
After applying a 20% buffer, the City still has enough water to support about 900 more homes. That lets us add 250 homes a year for 3 to 4 more years.
How Much Water Have We Presold?
But I looked at all the preliminary plans, zoning, and land use changes the City has approved since the beginning of last year and added it up, concluding Ivins has already made “commitments” to developers for more than 1,700 new homes (actually, “equivalent residential units” which accounts for apartments, townhomes, hotel rooms, RV spaces, etc. at a lower usage rate than single-family homes).
What Do We Do?
My analysis is preliminary. It should be double-checked and corrected. Then we will know what our water needs are, when we will need additional water, how much of it needs to be culinary quality versus irrigation. Then we should analyze all of the possible actions we can take. That way we can see the big picture and how various actions can fit together to solve the problem. This doesn’t have to take long, probably just 30 to 60 days if we get serious about it.
Please share your comments and tell me about other Ivins issues I have not addressed in recent posts. CONTACT ME
Recent “Water” and “Development” posts
- Our New Water Shortage PlaybookPDF 📄Washington County is one of the hottest and driest regions in Utah, and one of the fastest growing. Because nearly all of our drinking water comes from the Virgin River basin, we are vulnerable to drought, climate change, and interruptions caused by infrastructure failures, earthquakes, or system repairs. To prepare for these challenges, the…
- SITLA Affordable Housing Proposal — Great Goal, Challenging LocationPDF 📄As noted in previous articles, the Utah Trust Lands Administration (SITLA) is moving forward with a proposal to build 254 small, attainable single-family homes on its 40-acre parcel just off Hwy 91 next to Indigo Trails. The land is in unincorporated Washington County and within “Area 2” of the Ivins Annexation Policy Plan. The…
- Making Land Use Changes Work for the CommunityPDF 📄Cities across Utah are feeling pressure from the State Legislature to help provide more affordable housing options. At the same time, communities like Ivins are trying to maintain neighborhood character, protect infrastructure capacity, and preserve our quality of life. Those goals aren’t incompatible, but they require thoughtful decision-making. When development proposals come forward, they…
- Red Mountain Resort Development: Update 2PDF 📄Update – 10/17/25: The City Council last night approved a revised development agreement for Red Mountain Resort. The plan now allows 450 units instead of 500 and, more importantly, adds 16 conditions designed to reduce construction impacts, protect views, address traffic, ensure night-sky-friendly lighting, and more conditions to make the finished project fit more…
- Water, Fairness, and Ivins: A Smart Take from Wayne PenningtonPDF 📄Here’s an article by Wayne Pennington that I think you’ll appreciate. He’s running for City Council, and one of the many things I value about him is that he doesn’t just skim the surface, he does the homework. When the Washington County Water Conservancy District (WCWCD) released its draft drought plan, officially called the…