As American Fork is again grappling with lower than normal water levels, it is expected to renew a resolution this week to restrict how residents water their lawns.

Lower than normal snowfall in the mountains this year has caused the flows in the American Fork River to be less than 50 percent of average, the city’s primary water source for its pressurized irrigation system. Even secondary suppliers of water for the pressurized irrigation system are only showing allowable flows of 30 percent of normal.

The members of the City Council are expected to approve a resolution late Tuesday that would require users to apply conservation measures similar to the ones of last summer.

American Fork water superintendent Jay Brems said the city saved over 400 million gallons of water in 2013, the first year it imposed restrictions, a 14.5-percent decrease when compared to 2012. Mr. Brems said the restrictions allowed the peak demand to not be so high because of the different days of watering.

The resolution would take effect as early as this week, but also present the City with the challenge of communicating and enforcing the changes. The City Council would have to vote again next year if it wants to renew the mandate.

The new rules will only apply to pressurized irrigation users. Residents can still use culinary water without restriction — even to water their lawns — because that water is not in shortage and is billed by the gallon. The City says it has a plentiful supply of potable water obtained more than 100 years ago called American Fork Springs, but it is the irrigation water that is getting low.

The new rule will allow residential users with sprinkler systems to irrigate their lawns from 6 p.m. on an assigned day to 10 a.m. the next day only. Those with odd-numbered addresses would be allowed to water on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays; even-numbered addresses on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Anyone could water on Sundays. Large users, such as parks, cemetery, schools, churches, and large commercial development will water between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.

Residents will be given warnings if they violate what would become a mandatory water restrictions law. American Fork is expected to send fliers announcing the new rules to its residents.

The next step after a warning would be to issue a citation for a second violation. “If they persist in violating water restrictions, we would lock out their water, and they wouldn’t have any irrigation water,” Public Works director Dale Goodman said.

City officials have also talked about installing radio-read meters for the pressurized irrigation water and change the billing system to reflect the actual amount used, encouraging water conservancy. Such meters were cost prohibitive when the pressurized irrigation system was first installed, but have come down in price, according to city engineers.

Fliers announcing the new water rules would also include time guidelines as recommended by the State Division of Water Resources. “Please adjust sprinkler timers and do your part to conserve water,” the flier, which was reviewed by the Citizen, reads. “If all outdoor water users will do their part, the City should be able to provide sufficient water to make it through the dry months.”

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