Revealing information on the need of water conservation in certain locales out west. Lends credence to Vegas Water Czar Pat Mulroy’s criticism of SLC and its “pastoral” environment. SLC ought to wise up to the reality that its basically a desert here even though it may not be as dry as some of the other cities on the list.

A COMPARATIVE LOOK AT PER CAPITA WATER CONSUMPTION IN UTAH AND OTHER WESTERN CITIES
Figures below are expressed in gallons per capita per day (gpd):

1)Las Vegas (Southern Nevada Water Authority) 165 gpd
2)Los Angeles (Metropolitan Water of Southern California) 125 gpd
3)Tucson 114 gpd
4)Albuquerque 110 gpd
5)Salt Lake City 240 gpd
6)St. George (Washington County Water Conservancy District) 254 gpd
7)Denver 168 gpd
8)Phoenix 218 gpd

Sources:
1)“Hidden Oasis”, Pacific Institute, 2007
2)Ibid.
3)Ibid.
4)Ibid.
5)Salt Lake City Public Utilities, 2008.
6)WCWCD, 2007 for water consumption rates in 2005
7)Denver Water, 2009
8)City of Phoenix Water Services Dept., 2005
Salt Lake City also reports that its customers’ consumption rate was 320 gpd in 1998, and WCWD states that its customer usage was 387 gpd in 1996, indicating some progress in conservation efforts. The Utah Division of Water Resources reported statewide consumption at 293 gpd in its most recent report.
For another analysis, see: http://wwa.colorado.edu/front_range/docs/IMW_WaterUseandRates.pdf
Information compiled by Steve Erickson, Utah Coordinator, Great Basin Water Network, 4/14/2010