All you listeners have heard the Silver Dollar Man complain about how Utah is lacking in water, unlike his beloved East Coast. Linda Townes Cook, Public Information Manager with the Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District, has over thirty years of experience with water. Her job seeks to make the best use of available water through development, conservation, or servicing the Salt Lake County area.
Why Water is Important to Utahns
Water directly affects the state’s growth. How land is developed in the future will determine how much water there is, and if Utah ran out of water sources, development would stop completely. The Jordan Valley Water Conservancy plans 50 years into the future, as it would take as long to acquire a new water source.
The good news is, Utah’s not about to run out of drinking water anytime soon, as 60% of drinking water goes into watering lawns. With such a large portion of water going to a non-essential source, Linda isn't worried about going thirsty, even in the second driest state. However, the battle for water conservation largely depends on landscaping.