Tooele City Council cuts new-home water right requirement to 0.27 acre-feet, 5-0

The Tooele City Council voted 5-0 on Oct. 7 to amend its water rights requirements for new development, lowering the depletion rate used for interior water use from 100 percent to 60 percent, according to the meeting agenda, video and the OpenUtah record. Ordinance 2026-26 changes City Code Section 7-26-2(3)(a), and the agenda lists it as a public hearing item presented by City Engineer Paul Hansen. ^[1][2][3]

A city engineer explained during the meeting that depletion is the portion of water consumed and not returned to the water system, and that developers must supply water rights to cover the diversion the city needs. The engineer said the city needs 0.25 acre-feet of indoor water per home. Under the old rule, which assumed 100 percent depletion, developers had to offset all of it, and because farm water rights allow only about 55 percent depletion, a developer had to convey 0.45 acre-feet. At the 60 percent rate the requirement falls to 0.27 acre-feet per home. The change applies to the interior requirement; the engineer said the exterior landscape requirement is unchanged, and that the city is cutting the extra water it must hold to offset depletion rather than the water it needs. The ordinance's proposed effective date was Sept. 2, 2026. ^[3]

The engineer said the 60 percent figure comes from about 55 percent of water being consumed in the plant's end uses and about 5 percent or less leaving the wastewater plant in biosolids, which is still exported. The engineer said water rights collected from developers over roughly the last 20 years now cover the evaporation losses at the reclamation ponds and plant. ^[3]

During the general public comment period, a resident of the Overlake area said she is not opposed to development. She asked what the change means for the city's water supply in 20, 30 or 50 years, and where the remaining 40 percent of water goes and whether it returns to the city's system. She said she was somewhat confused by the calculation. At the public hearing she asked about the harm in an independent study and whether the council could wait for the city's water study. Public Works Director Nathan Farrer said two recent studies show the city has enough water for current needs through 2040 and possibly beyond. The council then voted to approve the ordinance. ^[3]

The council approved several other items by 5-0 votes. Resolution 2026-74 adopts first-quarter fiscal 2026-27 budget amendments, including project carryovers and wastewater treatment plant funding for pumps, an aerator and sludge hauling, and was presented by Finance Director Shannon Wimmer. Resolution 2026-75 approves a $500,000 construction contingency in the agreement with COP Construction, LLC, for water reclamation facility upgrades, presented by Public Works Director Nathan Farrer. ^[1][3]

Resolution 2026-76 approves Change Order No. 2 for $78,242 with Black Forest Paving, LLC, for waterline patch road repairs and completion of the American Way roadway. Ordinance 2026-28 updates the city's policies and procedures manual, including auto-enrollment in retirement plans, a larger tenured service bonus and changes to how the Juneteenth holiday is observed. The council also approved invoices and purchase orders that included police vehicles, dump trucks, a lift and heavy equipment, and adjourned at 8:06 p.m. ^[1][3]