This winter has been a record-low snow year for Utah. Snowpack levels are well below normal, which directly impacts the water supply we rely on throughout the year. Currently, snow water equivalent (SWE) in the Provo–Utah Lake and Jordan Basin is about 49% of the median, and nearly 95% of Utah’s drinking water comes from snowpack.
According to the State of Utah, 93% of the state is currently in drought. In Utah, we are either in drought or preparing for the next one. Even in good water years, reservoirs must be filled to ensure reliability through dry cycles. That means conservation isn’t a short-term response, it’s a way of life for Utahns and for South Jordan residents.
The good news is that South Jordan offers more tools, assistance, and financial support than ever to help residents conserve water.
Landscape Rebates: Help Anywhere You Have Grass
If you have grass, there is likely a program that can help you convert it to water-wise landscaping.
The City’s Flip Your Strip program makes it easy to replace grass in park strips by providing all materials for free, delivering them at no cost, and offering three different rock options to choose from.
For other areas of the yard, South Jordan offers hardscape, curbing, and water-wise plant rebates that can be used anywhere grass currently exists. Including, but not limited to front yards, side yards, backyards, landscaped islands, or flowerbeds, and more.
Residents who participate in the curbing rebate program and install metal edging or curbing to define new landscaped areas may receive up to nine cubic yards of rock from the City. Some residents have successfully converted their entire yards over multiple years by taking advantage of South Jordan rebates year after year.
Double the Assistance: City Rebates + Utah Water Savers
South Jordan residents are uniquely able to utilize both City-provided rebates and materials with Utah Water Savers incentives, giving local homeowners more assistance than many other communities.
Utah Water Savers offers up to $3 per square foot for removing grass and converting it to water-efficient landscaping such as mulch or planting beds. That same area may also qualify for South Jordan rebates or free materials. When used together, some residents are able to convert landscape areas for zero cost, or even come out ahead financially if they choose to do the work themselves.
Save Water Inside the Home
Water conservation doesn’t stop at the yard. The City also offers toilet rebates for toilets installed prior to 1992 and fixture rebates for showers and faucets installed before 2005, helping reduce everyday water use without sacrificing comfort.
Free Help from City Water Experts
Residents can request a free water audit, where City staff review sprinkler zones, timers, backflows, and overall yard configuration. Staff help adjust watering schedules and provide zone-specific recommendations based on current conditions.
The City also offers free leak checks for culinary water systems and secondary systems where meters are present. In many cases, staff can identify the exact location of a leak and assist in stopping it during the same appointment, saving water and preventing higher utility bills.
Track Your Water Use and Get a Credit
South Jordan water customers can sign up for the Water Customer Portal, which allows residents to track yearly, monthly, daily, and even hourly water use. The portal sends alerts for potential leaks, allows users to set usage thresholds, and provides greater visibility into indoor and outdoor water use. As an added benefit, residents receive a $20 credit on their water bill just for signing up.
Leading by Example
The City is also converting its own landscapes. This year, City-owned park strips along 11400 South and Redwood Road have begun the transition to water-wise landscaping, with portions already underway.
Why Every Drop Counts
Secondary (irrigation, non-potable) water is just as important as culinary (potable) water in the Great Salt Lake Basin. Unused secondary water ultimately flows to the Great Salt Lake, making conservation critical across all systems. Conditions may change year to year, but the reality remains the same: Utah is nearly always in drought, and responsible water use matters.
South Jordan is committed to helping residents succeed, and there has never been more support available to make water-wise choices, for today and for the future.