News

Actions

Pump problem prevents Saratoga Springs residents from watering lawns

Posted at 4:23 PM, Jul 03, 2013
and last updated 2013-07-03 18:23:53-04

SARATOGA SPRINGS, Utah -- Towns in Utah County have struggled with water issues this summer, and now residents of a Saratoga Springs neighborhood said when they turn on their sprinkling systems nothing comes out.

Some Saratoga Springs residents, like Mistie Shattuck, said they haven’t been getting secondary water very often this year.

“This is the first year I've seen no water and things drying up and dying,” Shattuck said. “I personally haven't been told to restrict the water, it's just every time my husband tries to turn it on there's no pressure. It's kind of disappointing because we have a lot of trees and plants that are dying.”

Owen Jackson is a spokesman for Saratoga Springs City, and he said a well pump broke in June, and the temporary pump can only work at half-capacity, which means a reduction in pressure. He said they are doing all they can to restore pressure.

“Basically just telling people to conserve as they can, and then we have two projects coming on-line in the next two weeks, two more wells that will help alleviate the problems as well as getting that pump up to full capacity,” he said.

The city has mandated that residents cannot water their lawns during the day between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., and they are asked to only water once every three days.

Resident Jamie Norman said they sometimes water during those hours because it’s the only time they are able.

“They tell us to water from 2 to 5, but you can't water in those hours because we don't have any pressure, so you water when you can,” Norman said.

City officials said they expect the pressure problem to be resolved by the end of July, but some residents said their lawns won’t last that long.

“We have a lot of nice plants and flowers that we spent a lot of money on, and I think it will kill them,” Shattuck said.