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The Marriott-Slaterville City History Collection was created by the residents of the town to document their history. The collection includes Autobiographies, Oral Histories, History of Marriott, History of Slaterville, and the History of the Merging Townships to create Marriott-Slaterville City. This information has left behind rich histories, stories and important information regarding the history of the Marriott-Slaterville area. |
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Show April 22, 2001 Weber cities take steps to avoid a future water crisis By TANNA BARRY_ Standard-Examiner staff Small cities in Weber County are taking steps to ensure they don't run into a water crisis. "There will be a time when treated water will be very expensive," said George Burbidge, director of storm water management for Weber County. "Already, there are communities (outside the county) that won't issue building permits because they don't have enough treated water supply." Burbidge wants to make sure the same restrictions don't happen in Weber County cities. He is trying to get a countywide master plan in place to install pressurized secondary water systems. The systems do not use culinary water, which is an expensive and limited commodity in some areas. Instead, the system uses untreated water to supply pressurized water to homes. "The whole Wasatch Front is growing heavily," Burbidge said. "We need to have stronger conservation efforts, and the best one is secondary water." Secondary pressurized water systems would eliminate the use of culinary water for outdoor needs. It also replaces flood irrigation. Large land owners, including farmers, often use a watering system that floods the land. Pressurized secondary allows a person to use a sprinkling system that can be turned on and off. "It uses far less water," Burbidge said. "You're only using the water that's needed." The benefits of secondary water systems are obvious to administrators in some Weber County cities. Marriott-Slaterville doesn't have any of its own wells or springs. Instead, like many other cities, the city buys water from entities such as the Bona Vista Water Company. Duncan Murray, city administrator of Marriott-Slaterville, said cities are worried that water might limit growth capabilities in the future if they don't protect their water source. "We're concerned about not reaching a point where Bona Vista runs out of water," he said. "We don't want to be the ones taxing their water system." Murray feels getting a pressurized secondary water system would free up some of Bona Vista's water. However, since Marriott-Slaterville is a relatively new city, they don't have the funds to acquire secondary water systems right now. "That's something we'd sure love to have, but it's like somebody wanting a BMW," Murray said. "You have to work your way up to afford it." Other cities are reaching for their "BMWs" right now as they prepare to install pressurized secondary water systems. Hooper Mayor Durk Bailey said his city is trying to conserve water by switching to the new system. "A lot of people out here are using culinary water to water their lawns," Bailey said. "As we continue to grow, this could put a strain on our water." Bob Morgan, a state engineer in charge of appropriation and distribution of all the waters of the state, agrees that growth could put a strain on water resources. "It's a very scarce commodity," Morgan said. "There's just not an awful lot of water to go around." While secondary systems will help conserve water, Morgan also thinks reduction in agricultural lands will help. More than 80 percent of water goes to agricultural uses, he said. A Dry Year Equals Water Worries 53 |