In the midst of the severe drought, Vernal City is looking for ways to be smart with water use. Recognizing that there is decreasing water availability, Vernal City has made arrangements to use well water from under City Hall to water the flowers on Main Street starting in July. “The irrigated area of the planters and hanging baskets along Main Street equates to an area the size of an average front yard,” shares Vernal City Manager Quinn Bennion. “It is anticipated that the impacts from this drought will worsen as the summer progresses.” The impacts are being felt throughout the entire state, including in the Uintah Basin. Bennion explains that while other parts of Utah may be experiencing more severe effects from the drought than in the Ashley Valley, Vernal residents are still encouraged to take steps to conserve water. “Currently, there are no mandatory restrictions on water use within Vernal City, however voluntary water-wise practices are encouraged such as watering lawns at night, lessening the number of waterings, taking shorter showers, fixing any leaks promptly and using drought tolerant plants in your landscaping.” For more information on ways to reduce water use, visit drought.utah.gov.
