Sanpete County adopts water element into general plan after public hearing

MANTI — The Sanpete County Commission on Tuesday, Jan. 6 adopted a new water element into the county’s general plan following a public hearing that focused largely on resident concerns about private wells, building permits and potential future water restrictions.
Commissioners and consultants repeatedly emphasized that the newly adopted water element is an advisory planning document required by state law and does not impose new regulations or change existing water rights, well limits, or building requirements.
The water element was prepared to comply with Utah Code 17-27a-403 and recent legislative changes passed by the Utah Legislature in 2022 and 2023, which require counties to integrate water planning into their general plans. The document is intended to guide long-term land use and infrastructure decisions by outlining how development affects water demand and identifying conservation and coordination strategies.
Sunrise Engineering consultant Gabby Blackburn, who presented the document, said the element does not create mandates.
“It’s all very advisory,” Blackburn said. “No one’s forced to do anything.”
During public comment, a resident asked whether adoption of the water element could change how much water an individual must demonstrate to build a home in unincorporated areas. Commission Chair Scott Bartholomew responded directly: “No, it does not.”
Blackburn added that the document does not alter state-regulated water allocation standards tied to building permits or domestic wells.
“The amount of water required to build a home can be set by multiple different ways,” she said. “This was only looking at ways to reduce water consumption.”
The adopted plan confirms that domestic wells remain regulated by the Utah Division of Water Rights, which typically limits individual household wells to one acre-foot of water per year. Shared wells and larger systems remain subject to existing state permitting and health department requirements.
Several commissioners addressed speculation circulating online that the water element could be used to restrict well use or halt rural development. Commissioner Mike Bennett said those claims are inaccurate.
“It has nothing to do with the amount of water you can use in your well or what’s required there,” Bennett said.
While the document does not impose regulations, it does outline the county’s existing water conditions and long-term planning challenges. Much of unincorporated Sanpete County relies on groundwater drawn from the Sanpete Valley alluvial aquifer, which is primarily recharged by mountain snowmelt, irrigation return flows, and limited precipitation. According to the plan, recent evaluations show annual groundwater withdrawals exceeding 6,000 acre-feet, with recharge closely tied to snowpack variability.
The water element also acknowledges significant data gaps. The county does not maintain a centralized database tracking private well usage, aquifer recharge rates, or cumulative groundwater impacts, limiting the ability to assess long-term sustainability. Because of those limitations, the plan focuses on education, coordination with state agencies and future data collection rather than enforceable standards.
Population growth projections cited in the document estimate that Sanpete County could grow by roughly 14 percent by 2030, with much of that growth expected to occur outside municipal water systems. County planners note that this trend increases reliance on private wells and shared systems, which was a primary reason the state required counties to adopt water elements as part of their general plans.
The document outlines voluntary conservation strategies, including reducing outdoor water use, encouraging xeriscaping, improving irrigation efficiency, and coordinating with municipalities, irrigation companies and water districts. It also identifies potential policy tools the county may study in the future, such as landscaping standards or water availability reviews during subdivision approval, though commissioners stressed those items are not part of the current adoption.
Commissioners noted that the water element was reviewed and recommended by the county’s planning commission before coming to the commission and that adoption was necessary to remain compliant with Utah. “It’s a state requirement,” Bartholomew said.
The water element will now be incorporated into the Sanpete County General Plan, which commissioners described as a guiding document rather than a regulatory ordinance. County staff said the finalized plan will be submitted to the state and made available through the Sanpete County Planning and Zoning Department.
Commissioners also said other elements of the general plan have been updated at different times and that the county has applied for grant funding to support broader general plan updates in 2026.
Following the close of public comment, the commission voted to adopt the water element.