Sandy residents have roughly 30 days to comment on a state plan that will shape how their water is managed for the next decade.
The Utah Division of Water Resources released a draft of the 2026 State Water Plan on July 23, laying out a blueprint for the state's water future. The plan addresses each water basin individually, including the Jordan River basin that supplies Sandy's roughly 96,400 residents through the Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District.
"This plan is a collaborative effort that ensures we are addressing the diverse water needs of our growing state," Joel Williams, director of the Division of Water Resources, said in the announcement. "Input from our partner agencies, stakeholders and the public is essential to creating a resilient water future for all Utahns."
What the plan covers
The draft focuses on three broad challenges: planning for climate uncertainty, maintaining aging water infrastructure, and using conservation to manage demand. Its recommendations fall under three themes: reliability and resilience, collaboration, and stewardship. They include calls for more extensive data collection on water usage and quality, increased infrastructure funding, better coordination among state, regional, and local agencies, and support for the Great Salt Lake Strategic Plan.
The plan sets four goals: ensure long-term water security; support growth within water constraints; strengthen coordination across interconnected systems; and protect the environment.
How to weigh in
The public comment period opened July 23. The Division of Water Resources described the window as 30 days, which would place the deadline around August 22.
A virtual open house is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on July 30, streaming live on YouTube. Residents can submit questions in advance through a Google form linked on the Division of Water Resources website. The plan was shaped in part by feedback from the division's 2025 "Water Talk" series, where residents shared local knowledge and helped prioritize community water needs.
Stephanie McGinnis, the state water plan manager, said the plan helps align state, local, and individual efforts to address Utah's evolving water needs.
The finalized 2026 State Water Plan is scheduled for release on December 31. Utah law requires the plan to be updated every 10 years, though the division aims to do so every five. Residents can review the draft at water.utah.gov/state-water-plan.
Why it matters locally
Sandy gets water through a layered system. JVWCD, the city's wholesale provider, was displaying an active "Water Twice a Week" drought conservation message on its website as of July 23. The Central Utah Water Conservancy District supplied roughly 19% of Sandy's culinary water in 2024, according to CUWCD's 2025 Water Conservation Plan. Sandy is listed as a participant in that conservation plan alongside other Salt Lake County cities.
Sandy's own Time of Day Watering Ordinance already prohibits sprinkler irrigation between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., and the city recommends reducing watering to twice per week during drought years.
Lake Powell stood at 23% full and Lake Mead at 27% full as of July 12, according to CNN, underscoring the regional pressure on the Colorado River system that feeds Utah's water supply.
