Utah Drought: Keeping Your Home and Yard Alive - Part 3: Smarter Water-Saving Upgrades
Hey there, Salt Lake Valley neighbors!
We’ve spent the last couple of weeks talking about the "scary" side of the Utah drought, those hidden home problems like foundation shifts and exterior damage that can really ruin your weekend. But today, for the final part of our series, I want to talk about something a little more optimistic: the upgrades.
Living in places like Herriman, Riverton, and West Valley City, we know that water is basically liquid gold. The good news is that you don’t need a $20,000 professional landscape overhaul to make a massive dent in your monthly bill. Sometimes, the smartest moves are the smallest ones.
Here are three ways to upgrade your home to be a water-saving machine.
1. High-Tech Flow, Low-Volume Usage
Low-flow showerheads usually make people imagine a sad, weak drizzle that makes getting the shampoo out of your hair a thirty-minute ordeal.
But it’s 2026, and the tech has changed! Modern WaterSense-labeled showerheads and faucet aerators use air-induction technology to give you that high-pressure feel while using significantly less water. Swapping out an old showerhead in your Sandy home can save thousands of gallons a year.
And don’t forget the kitchen and bathroom sinks. Adding a simple aerator is one of those cheap fixes that prevents expensive problems down the line by reducing your home’s overall water usage and the strain on your plumbing system
2. Stop the "Ghost Flushing"
Have you ever been sitting in your living room in Magna or West Valley City and heard your toilet suddenly start filling up, even though nobody used it? That’s what we call a "ghost flush," and it’s usually caused by a worn-out flapper.
A running toilet can waste hundreds of gallons of water per day. If you haven’t upgraded your toilets since the 90s, you’re likely using 3 to 5 gallons per flush. Modern high-efficiency toilets use about 1.28 gallons. In Utah, there are often rebates available through programs like "Slow the Flow" to help cover the cost of these replacements. If you aren't ready for a full replacement, give us a call, sometimes a simple $20 internal kit is all you need to stop that money from flushing away.
3. Smarter Outdoor Systems
If you’re in Riverton or Herriman, you probably have a decent-sized yard to maintain. Dragging a hose around in the 100-degree July heat is no fun for anyone, and it’s incredibly inefficient.
Here’s where we can really help you out:
Hose Timers: For under $50, you can get a digital timer that ensures you aren't accidentally leaving the water on for three hours because you got distracted by a movie.
Drip Irrigation: This is the MVP of drought-friendly gardening. Instead of spraying water into the air (where some of it evaporates before hitting the ground), drip lines deliver water directly to the roots. It’s better for the plants and much better for your wallet.
Rain Barrels: Yes, rain barrels are legal in Utah. You can collect up to 200 gallons without registration using two covered containers of 100 gallons each. With free state registration, you can store up to 2,500 gallons total. Setting these up to catch what little rain we do get is a great way to water your flower beds for free.
Why It Matters
At the end of the day, keeping the Salt Lake Valley green and functional takes all of us doing our part. Whether it's a quick faucet fix in Sandy or a full drip system setup in West Valley City, these small upgrades add up to a big impact on our local reservoirs.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by your utility bills or just want to make sure your home is as efficient as possible, reach out! I’m a licensed and insured contractor, and we’re here to help you keep your home in tip-top shape without the stress.
Stay cool out there!
