Ashley Valley Water and Sewer Improvement District (AVWSID) is a political subdivision of the state of Utah. As such we are subject to the provisions of Utah Code Title 17b and Title 17d, amongst other codes. This designation is special as it is considered a “non-profit”, but it is also not a private company and state law requires that the district set rates to cover expenses and put money aside for payments of loans and other expenditures. 

The district has an elected board of trustees. whose responsibility is to represent the customers of the district, protect the district from liability and prepare for the future. The district is NOT a developer, builder of homes, nor is it required to provide infrastructure and services to new connections. The district may choose to fund projects that benefit the district as a whole, while simultaneously allowing for new growth.

AVWSID’s mission is to provide safe drinking water to its customers. In order to do this, the district is required to have sufficient water rights for its customers. To accommodate new development and growth, the district requires water to be dedicated as part of the development process so that it can be delivered to the development via the treatment facilities.

All of the water in the State of Utah is owned by the state, and various individuals and companies are given the “right” to use the water. In the Ashley Valley area, all of the water has already been assigned or allocated. Therefore, there is no new water to be acquired.

The water in the Green River reserved for this area is part of the greater Colorado River Compact, but has multiple restrictions and challenges before it could ever be used in our areas. The district is actively pursuing contracts for this water with the Federal Government and Uintah Water Conservancy District, but this process will take time and be very costly.

In order for the federal government to allow for this water to be used in this area, a pumping station, piping, and a distribution network will need to be built. This will be costly due to the size of the station required. The federal government requires the pumping station be built to full capacity, even if the water isn’t subscribed to or used. 

Unfortunately, we don’t have an answer for this question. We have heard preliminary estimates being between $30 million and $120 million. Historically, municipalities who subscribe to water in this manner pay the government back via lower interest rate loans. The burden of that payment would fall directly on the existing customers via higher rates. Those rates are not yet known but could fall anywhere between $15 and $120 a month increase.

There are two items to consider with drilling a well.  The district is discussing hiring a water geologist to determine an appropriate location to drill some test wells. There are challenges with developing a well for culinary purposes, all of which are costly and may affect rates. For example, the well size must produce a large quantity of water. The quality of water must either be high enough to put in the drinking water system, or another treatment facility would need to be built. If the water can be put directly into the system, infrastructure needs to be built to a site that can deliver into the system. 

Also, as was mentioned previously, all the water in our valley has already been allocated. So, for the district to drill a well of sufficient size to meet potential demands, a sizeable water right would need to be found and purchased to replenish the water pumped out. Additionally, the district in the past has drilled wells, but they have either not been of a usable quantity for the district or of a quality that can be used for consumption.

Ever since the 1890s when the first settlers arrived in the valley, the water that was delivered to a settlement was used for both indoor and outdoor uses. This Water Development Policy is akin to what happened in those days, but it’s delivered via a different system. Therefore, the recommendation of the district is to seek out water that was historically delivered to your development address, or to find water that has been “retired” from a property. 

While most of the water in the valley is tied directly to Canal Company shares, it is not the only source of water. There are many decreed water rights owned by individuals that can be found. The district is actively attempting to find those to purchase.

The district’s policy states that it cannot accept dedicated water that has restrictions on it. One example of a restriction is when voting rights are removed from a proposed water share. Several of the canal companies have passed by-laws and articles of incorporation that strip a shareholder of their rights when they convert irrigation water to culinary purposes.

When water is dedicated to the district for a development, the district is legally obligated to provide service to that connection forever more. Essentially, the water is entrusted to the district to be used beneficially and protected. The district takes that responsibility very seriously and without the voting rights associated with the share, the district’s ability to protect that water for you is removed.

The Sand Mine is a customer, just like any other user albeit, with more demand than most. Their contract was negotiated several years ago, before the drought highlighted the water supply concerns. And, just like no one would want to sacrifice their meter so someone else could build, the district isn’t asking the mine to stop being a customer so more houses can be built.