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1. Is Kaysville City participating in Weber Basin Water Conservancy District's "Landscape Lawn Exchange" program?

Weber Basin Water Conservancy District (WBWCD) has strict requirements in order for a municipality's residents to be eligible for their "Landscape Lawn Exchange" program (previously known as "Flip the Strip" program). 

On May 4, 2023, the Kaysville City Council approved an ordinance which allows Kaysville residents to be able to participate in the "Landscape Lawn Exchange" program with Weber Basin Water Conservancy District (WBWCD). Under this lawn replacement program, lawn areas anywhere in your yard can be removed and replaced with low-water landscaping to qualify for an incentive. This is not a rebate program, but rather an incentive to assist you in the cost of re-landscaping to be more water efficient. 

Program participants will apply for the program using the Utah Water Savers Website (www.utahsavers.com). The application must be completed in full. WBWCD staff will review applications as they come in to approve participation in the program. Application must be approved before removing the lawn and starting the program.

For more information about the program, and to review the process and requirements, visit: https://weberbasin.com/Conservation/Rebates.

2. How do I know when to water?

Kaysville's secondary water is provided by 3 different water companies.  Each are operated independently from the city and has their own rules, rates, schedules, and enforcement. 

Use the map below to locate your service provider and then contact them for watering schedules.

View the Interactive Irrigation Boundaries Map

View the Irrigation Boundaries Map (PDF)

Benchland Water District
485 E Shepard Lane
Kaysville, Utah 84037
Main Office: 801-451-2105

Benchland Water District's on-call: 801-726-3709

Davis and Weber Counties Canal Company
138 W 1300 North
Clearfield, Utah 84015
Main Office: 801-774-6373

Davis and Weber Canal Company on-call: 801-774-6373

Haights Creek Irrigation
820 E 200 North
Kaysville, Utah 84037
Main Office: 801-546-4242

Haights Creek Irrigation on-call: 801-888-4361

Also, consider checking the Utah Division of Water Resources Weekly Lawn Water Guide 

3. What is Kaysville City doing to conserve water?

 

2022 Kaysville Parks and Public Properties Water Conservation 

• Water conservation efforts in 2021 saved 70 acre feet of water, equivalent to 23,000,000 gallons of water.
• Delay the planting of approximately 40 replacement trees until the fall of 2022 or spring of 2023.
• Place visible signage at each property for water conservation.
• No plantings of annual flowers on any properties in 2022.
• Provide park irrigation schedules as requested by the secondary irrigation providers (Davis Weber Canal, Haight’s Creek Irrigation, and Benchland Water). Parks staff are in communication regularly with the irrigation suppliers and make adjustments as necessary.
• Irrigating of all Park properties according to the guidelines of the secondary irrigation supplier. 
• Utilizing central control irrigation software, Weather Trak.  These advanced smart controller systems use weather data for setting irrigation times according to the restrictions in place.  These controllers also utilize flow monitoring to alert of potential breaks in the system.
• Eliminate turf in the park strip, see Pioneer Park (2019), Angel Street Soccer Complex (2004) and Kaysville Municipal Block (2014 & 2021) as examples.  Plans are being developed for other properties.
• Plans being developed to eliminate turf in certain areas around public buildings. Fire Station and Operations Center are the first being reviewed.
• Aggressive fertilization practices to maintain healthy turf with reduced water use.  Use of wetting agents to help soil retain more moisture and capture more water for use by the plant.
• New planter beds utilize drip irrigation.  More planter beds will be retro-fitted for drip irrigation.
• Dedicated irrigation crews that monitor system for efficiency and performance issues.  Irrigation crews will test systems in the early morning hours to avoid any water after 10am.  Irrigation systems will audited as frequently as possible.
• Aeration as often as possible.  Aerating opens the soils and relieves compaction to allow irrigation water to penetrate the soils deeper.
• Utilize all best management practices to sustain parks and open space in extreme drought conditions.
• Future plans include drip irrigation in all flower beds, drought tolerant vegetation and reduction in turf areas.

 

4. What is allowed in my park strip?

Any type of landscaping is allowed in a park strip. We encourage the use of water wise plants, drought tolerant vegetation, xeriscaping, and removal of grass. We also encourage removal of grass in areas that are not highly utilized, such as a front yard or side yard. 

5. What if my HOA doesn't allow me to change my landscaping?

Beginning May 5, 2022, an HOA “may not enact or enforce a governing document that prohibits, or has the effect of prohibiting, a lot owner of a detached dwelling from incorporating water wise landscaping on the property owner's property.”

Water wise landscaping is defined as:

• Installation of plant materials suited to the microclimate and soil conditions that can:
  1. Remain healthy with minimal irrigation once established or
  2. be maintained without the use of overhead spray irrigation
• Use of water for outdoor irrigation through proper and efficient irrigation design and water application
• Use of other landscape design features that
  1. Minimize the need of the landscape for supplemental water from irrigation
  2. Reduce the landscape area dedicated to lawn or turf

6. If I'm located in the Kaysville Business Park, can I remove any grass from my property?

Yes, removing grass is allowed as long as it is replaced with water wise landscaping.

7. What is Kaysville City's watering ordinance?

9-4-17 Water Use Time Restrictions

No outside use of culinary or secondary water shall be allowed between the hours of 10:00 AM and 6:00 PM unless otherwise directed in writing by the public works director or specific water provider.  This restriction shall not include supervised hand watering.  This shall not have any effect on any entity covered by agricultural zoning designations.

9-4-18(4) Illegal Hookup

It shall be a Class C Misdemeanor for an owner or occupant to make an unauthorized connection by bypassing a meter box from which the water meter has been removed by the division, in addition to all other fees and charges shall be assessed, which charge shall be collected prior to reinstatement of water services.

9-4-18(5) Penalty for Illegal Watering

a)    In the event of water usage in violation of the time restrictions imposed under Subsection 9-4-17 or 9-4-18 of this chapter or administrative order adopted pursuant to Subsection 9-4-19 of this chapter:

i)    For the first offense, a written warning will be issued to the customer either personally or by first class mail, postage prepaid, to the address listed on the application for service applicable to the location of the violation.

ii)    For the second offense in the same year, a civil penalty in the amount of fifty dollars ($50.00) shall be imposed, in addition to all other fees and charges assessed herein, which penalty shall be collected in the same manner as other fees and charges assessed under this chapter.

iii)    For subsequent offenses, an additional civil penalty shall be imposed in the same manner, but each subsequent civil penalty shall be double the amount of the penalty previously imposed on the same customer; provided that no penalty shall exceed an amount of eight hundred dollars ($800.00).

b)    No more than one civil penalty may be imposed on any one day.

c)    If such penalties are not paid when due, water will be shut off and not reinstated again as provided herein, until all such penalties are paid in full.

9-4-19 Drought Conditions

The Public Works Superintendent shall be given authority to implement additional restrictions on water usage within the City during any local or statewide need for water conservation. All further restrictions will be well defined with a limited duration reflecting the purpose for the restriction.

8. How to plant a garden in a drought

• Water plants deeply. On average, plants prefer one to one-and-a-half inches of moisture per week. In a drought, this may be hard to come by. To prepare your plants, watering deeply once a week is a better practice than watering more often with less amounts of water. Deep watering establishes a stronger and deeper root system, which will help sustain plants during hot, dry times. Watering deeply keeps more moisture in the soil. This means there is less evaporation.
• Stop fertilizing! Fertilizer promotes fast growth. Fast growth means there is a need for more water. The plants will grow just fine, but at a slower rate. In addition, fertilizer salts can build up in the soil. Since there is less moisture to assist in the uptake of fertilizer or help it leech out in the soil, the buildup of salt can have a tendency to burn the plants roots.
• Be vigilant at weeding. Weeding will provide more of an impact during dry conditions. Weeds compete for valuable resources, like sunlight, nutrients and water. By keeping weeds under control, you are providing a better environment for the plants. Less competition will help the plants have less stress, so they can grow better.
• Water with a soaker hose or set up a drip system. These two delivery systems will provide water directly to the soil and the plant root system. They greatly reduce water runoff and evaporation. An added benefit is that it also keeps the foliage dry, which in turn helps to prevent fungal diseases.
• Mulching is necessary. Applying two to three inches of mulch to your garden and flowerbeds will shield the ground from direct sun. This keeps the soil cooler, keeps moisture in the ground longer and keeps weeds at a minimum.
• Dead head flowering plants early. Do not allow spent blooms to form into seeds. Plants going to seed expend large amounts of energy and water, which is best used to sustain a healthier plant.
• Reduce or stop applying herbicide. First, applying herbicide when it is too hot turns the liquid to gas and can cause drift. Second, weeds do not take up the herbicide as well during dry conditions. Lastly, during dry spells, some weeds can become tolerant to herbicides.
• Avoid using pesticides. Most pesticides are applied directly to the leaves of plants. Because of the hot, dry conditions brought on by a drought, the chemicals can damage the leaves and harm the plants.