So far this summer, Park City’s water managers are not seeing a problem in the demands on their water supply.
Park City Utility Director Clint McAffee said the peak demand for their water, in terms of outdoor irrigation, was delayed due to the extended winter.
“Right around the first of July, right in time for the Fourth of July weekend, we peak.” McAffee explained. “that’s traditionally our peak day, give or take a week right around the Fourth of July. But it’s usually a slow ramp up to that point. This year, with all the rain, it kind of went from low demand to very high demand quickly.”
The run-off season presented some challenges for them.
“Both in our tunnel sources and in the Weber River,” McAffee said. “So what happens, all that water rushing down the drainage just picked up stuff. It’s harder water to treat. It’s full of mud and organics and debris. And usually that tapers off, kind of in conjunction with demand rising. And those two things were happening a little closer together this year. So we went from no demand, watching some of the harder-to-treat water, hoping that would subside, but the demand picked up while that water was still there.”
McAffee said the water is in good shape now and clearing up.
He said their daily demand, including residential and commercial, is around 7.5 million gallons. Add in the water for two golf courses, and it’s nearly 10 million. With MacLeod Creek and Silver Creek in the mix, it is 13-14 million.
McAffee said the good news is their total capacity is around 19 million.
For the long-term future, the city may have to think about where to store water. McAffee said a reservoir in Round Valley is a possibility on paper, but they haven’t talked about it a lot.
“It’s in an agreement,” McAffee continued. “That’s one option we could look at, should we run out of water in the future. But right now, like I mentioned, we have a surplus. We’re seeing major successes in our conservation rate here. And I think the two entities in the Basin, Mountain Regional and Summit are seeing successes in putting a lot of energy into conservation.”
McAffee added that the water entities have agreements to share surplus water with each other.
