Leavitt to Raise Water Rates to Encourage Conservation

Utah needs to take drastic steps to prepare for the future, Gov. Mike Leavitt said Tuesday night at Utah State University.

A crowd of 200 listened as Leavitt outline his policy for equalizing growth and natural resources in Utah.

"It’s a function of balance," Leavitt said.

He said we need to meet our social obligations while taking care of the environment. As Utah continues to grow, natural resources will become more of an issue, especially water.

"We are very clearly moving toward a situation where conservation will be key," he said.

Leavitt suggested raising water rates to encourage conservation while financially providing for growth. Utah has the third lowest water rates in the nation among household consumers, but is second highest in water consumption.

"That’s a public policy that says consume, consume, consume," Leavitt said. "We need to adopt public policies that are more sensitive to the need to conserve."

Leavitt also said he plans to restructure state sales tax. Eliminating the use of tax revenues to subsidize water will further encourage conservation, he said.

"Water is such a valuable resource and should be funded by a more reliable source than sales tax," Leavitt said. "Water funds should not be in competition with what also funds education."

Story and photo by Toby G. Hayes