Precious Water

CITY COUNCIL Workshop meetings held at City Hall, in recent past, included a presentation by Ron Thompson, General Manager of the Washington County Water Conservation District….. Development of the County Water Supply and the Lake Powell Pipeline were topics of discussion.

The thought of NOT having enough water is frightening. Especially to those who have suffered through long periods of draught and even to those who have lived long enough to know and appreciate what it would mean to our environment. OUR beautiful State of Utah, and yes, our beloved City.

Our very lives, and the quality of life we enjoy cannot be sustained without WATER and yet we continue to ask ourselves; do we want to protect ourselves against that fearful day that we find our faucets dry, that very important question, DO WE WANT WATER at any price?.......Or do we consider the COST, and act according to what we believe to be financially prudent.

There are CONSEQUENCES to whatever decision is made. WHO is to make the decision?  The VOTER?  Or, does it to continue to be those individuals who have been appointed to positions of power… THOSE who have not been elected, and therefore cannot be held accountable by the Voters.

The Washington County Water Conservancy District is made up of APPOINTED MEMBERS, who have the power to increase water rates; TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION and is therefore problematic.

Is it time for this issue to be placed on the ballot, before CITIZENS are committed to a long term obligation that is called the Lake Powell Water Pipeline?

I believe it is TIME to have elected individuals, who can be held accountable to the VOTERS sit on the Washington County Water Conservancy District BOARD OF TRUSTEES. Having said this and keeping in mind the CONSEQUENCES of our decision to move forward or not, I believe that there are Financial Limits and we cannot say “forget the cost, full speed ahead.”  Citizens should know and have a right to know the COST of the Lake Powell Pipeline and associated factors.

-Ed