Water Conservation

Awareness & Understanding

Water is the most precious resource in Utah. The Great Salt Lake has lost more than half its water in the last 150 years — and where that water goes starts right at your tap, your sprinklers, and your shower. Before you can protect something, you need to see it clearly. Watch "Water in the West" on the Utah Division of Water Resources YouTube channel and explore the BeWaterWise.com website. Jot down three facts about Utah's water supply that genuinely surprise you. Talk to one adult in your house about where your tap water actually comes from. You're ready for the next step when you can explain, in your own words, why water conservation matters specifically in the Salt Lake Valley.

Research & Investigation

Now dig into how water actually gets used. In Utah, about 60% of home water use goes to outdoor watering — lawns and gardens. But indoor habits add up fast too. Use the Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District's free online Water Tracker tool to log your household's water use for one full week. Look up your city's water report on the SLC Public Utilities website to see where your water comes from and how much is used locally. Write down the three biggest water wasters you found in your own home. You're ready for the next step when you can identify at least three specific places where your household wastes water and explain why each one matters.

Planning & Preparation

Time to make a real plan — not a vague "save water" idea, but a specific action list. Pick two or three water-wasting habits you found in your research and design a simple fix for each one. For example: a five-minute shower timer, a rain gauge to skip sprinkler days, or turning off the tap while brushing teeth. Use the EPA's WaterSense label lookup at epa.gov/watersense to find efficient fixtures your family could swap in. Write your plan down with exact steps, who will do what, and how you will measure success. You're ready for the next step when you have a written water conservation plan with at least two specific actions and a way to track results.

Taking Action

Put your plan into action for at least two weeks. Track your results every day — write down shower times, note when you skipped lawn watering after rain, or record how many gallons you saved using your city's water bill. Use the free WaterSense home water audit checklist (download it at epa.gov/watersense) to spot any leaks or inefficiencies you missed. If your family has a drip irrigation system, walk through it with an adult and check for broken emitters. Every small fix counts in a desert city. You're ready for the next step when you have at least two weeks of tracking data showing a real change in your household's water use.

Leadership & Expansion

You've changed your own habits — now help others do the same. Create a short presentation, poster, or social media post that teaches your neighborhood, school, or a local community group one key water-saving technique. Share your real tracking data as proof it works. Contact the Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities — they offer free water conservation workshops and might let you present alongside them. Teach at least five people outside your family something specific and actionable about saving water in Utah's climate. You're ready for the next step when you can point to at least five people you taught and describe how they responded to what you shared.

Impact & Reflection

Look back at everything you did over the past four weeks. Pull out your tracking data and calculate the total estimated gallons your household saved. Write a one-page reflection that answers these questions: What changed? What was harder than you expected? What would you do differently? Then connect your work to the bigger picture — the Great Salt Lake needs roughly one million acre-feet of water to reach a healthy level. Your household savings are a small piece, but real. Post your reflection or results somewhere others can see it, like a school bulletin board or the NextDoor app. You're ready for the next step when you can clearly explain your measurable impact and connect it to Utah's larger water challenges.