Herriman UT Water Restrictions 2026

Current water restrictions in Herriman, Utah

Herriman is currently under a Moderate Stage 1 Advisory, limiting all outdoor landscape irrigation to 3 days per week on a mandatory basis, with enforcement coordinated by the Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District (JVWCD).

Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District declared the Stage 1 restrictions in response to a historic drought emergency across Utah. Utah snowpack peaked on March 9 at just 8.4 inches — the lowest ever recorded in the state — and reached that peak roughly three weeks earlier than normal. As of this writing, 94% of Utah is in some level of drought, and the statewide picture remains severe heading into the irrigation season.

Herriman's situation is compounded by its own growth trajectory. It is consistently ranked among the fastest-growing cities in Utah, and that rapid new-construction expansion generates unusually high outdoor water demand — particularly from new lawn establishments where sod and seed require frequent watering to survive. Jordan Valley Water and Herriman City have both been aggressive in pushing conservation messaging and turf conversion incentives in direct response to that demand pressure. The current restrictions are mandatory, not voluntary, which means homeowners cannot opt out.

Practically speaking: if your street address ends in an odd number, you may water on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday — but only before 10:00 AM or after 6:00 PM. A resident with an odd-numbered address cannot run their sprinklers on a Wednesday morning at 11:00 AM; that falls within the prohibited midday window. If your address is even, your days are Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, with the same time restrictions. These restrictions are in effect through October 31, 2026. Contact JVWCD at (801) 565-4300 with questions about your specific address or service area.

When can you water in Herriman?

The address-based day assignment is determined by the last digit of your street address number. A home at 14382 Moonrise Crest Drive would be an even address and waters Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. A home at 5617 Sage Hollow Road would be odd and waters Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Sunday is a no-watering day for all Herriman residents under Stage 1 restrictions — this is a deliberate system-pressure-relief measure across the JVWCD service area.

Multi-family residential properties and commercial accounts should use the last digit of their primary billing address number to determine their assigned days. If your commercial property has multiple meters at a single address, all meters follow the same day assignment. Property managers overseeing HOAs or apartment complexes in Herriman's newer master-planned communities — including areas along Herriman's Mountain View Corridor growth zones — should verify their billing address directly with JVWCD at (801) 565-4300, as some large parcels use a different address than their street-facing entry.

Herriman sits at approximately 4,900 to 5,500 feet elevation, and the surrounding landscape includes established Gambel oak, bigtooth maple, and Rocky Mountain juniper — all of which require supplemental irrigation during drought years despite being native or near-native to the Wasatch Front. Under Stage 1 rules, drip irrigation serving trees and shrubs is exempt from day and time restrictions, which means you can run a drip system on any day at any hour. Prioritizing root-zone drip for established shade trees before resuming turf watering is strongly recommended by Jordan Valley Water's conservation staff.

Penalty schedule for water violations

Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District enforces restrictions through a combination of complaint-based reports and field patrols. Residents can submit a water waste report directly through JVWCD's website at jordanvalleywater.org or by calling (801) 565-4300. JVWCD has expanded its smart meter network across the district, which allows staff to flag accounts with irrigation consumption patterns inconsistent with their assigned watering days — high overnight or midday usage can trigger a follow-up visit even without a neighbor complaint.

If you believe a citation was issued in error — for example, if your drip system ran during a prohibited window due to a controller malfunction — you can request a review by contacting JVWCD directly. First-offense written warnings are typically resolved quickly if you demonstrate corrective action (reprogramming your irrigation controller, for instance). JVWCD has historically been responsive within a few business days for routine inquiries, but during peak summer enforcement periods, response times may extend. Keeping a dated record of controller settings and any system repairs is advisable if you are contesting a repeat violation.

Other outdoor water rules

Beyond irrigation day-and-time restrictions, Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District's Stage 1 rules prohibit or restrict several other outdoor water uses in Herriman. Given the city's high proportion of new construction, construction-site water use and new-sod establishment are among the most actively monitored categories this season.

• New lawn establishment: New sod and seeding projects require pre-registration with JVWCD for a 30-day temporary establishment exemption. Without registration, new installations are subject to the same 3-day schedule as established turf.
• Car washing at home: Permitted only with a hand-held hose equipped with a self-closing shutoff nozzle. Running water continuously from a hose while washing is prohibited.
• Pressure washing: Restricted to necessary cleaning — not cosmetic rinsing of driveways, sidewalks, or patios. Using a hose or pressure washer to clear debris from hardscape is a citable water waste violation.
• Pool filling and refilling: Initial pool filling for new pools requires a permit from Herriman City. Topping off to compensate for normal evaporation is permitted but should be done with a float valve to prevent overflow. Decorative fountains and water features must be equipped with recirculating pumps.
• Irrigation system flushing and testing: Contractor testing of new irrigation systems must occur between 6:00 PM and 10:00 AM and should be reported to JVWCD for accounts under active construction.
• Commercial and restaurant water service: Restaurants in Herriman are required to serve drinking water only upon customer request under Stage 1 advisory rules.

Where Herriman's water comes from

Herriman's water supply is managed entirely by the Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District, which serves the western Salt Lake Valley including Herriman, South Jordan, West Jordan, and surrounding communities. JVWCD is not a municipal utility — it is a wholesale water provider that delivers treated water to Herriman City, which then distributes it to residents.

The primary source for JVWCD is the Central Utah Project (CUP), which transports water from the Uinta Basin via the Strawberry Reservoir system across the Wasatch Range and into the Salt Lake Valley. Strawberry Reservoir, located in Wasatch County, is the linchpin storage facility in this delivery chain. In years with normal snowpack, Strawberry fills from Duchesne River drainage and other Uinta Basin tributaries. In 2025, that snowpack peaked March 9 at 8.4 inches — a record low — meaning Strawberry Reservoir entered the irrigation season at significantly reduced storage levels.

JVWCD also draws from Utah Lake via the Jordan River, which runs northward through the Salt Lake Valley. The Jordan Valley Water Treatment Plant, one of the largest surface water treatment facilities in Utah, processes this water before it reaches Herriman's distribution system. The plant uses advanced treatment including ozone disinfection and biological filtration. A second key facility, the Point of the Mountain Water Treatment Plant, supplements supply during peak demand periods.

Groundwater plays a secondary but meaningful role. JVWCD operates wells drawing from the Salt Lake Valley Groundwater Basin, which is actively managed under Utah Division of Water Rights oversight. During drought years like 2025, groundwater production is increased to offset reduced surface water availability — but the aquifer itself is also under stress from the valley's sustained population growth, making surface water conservation during the irrigation season directly relevant to long-term groundwater sustainability.

Can your HOA fine you for a brown lawn?

Utah homeowners are protected from HOA fines for brown or dormant lawns during declared water restrictions under Utah Code § 57-8a-218. Under this statute, a homeowners association in Utah may not impose a fine or other penalty on a lot owner for having a brown, dry, or dormant lawn when a governmental entity has declared a water shortage or mandated water use restrictions. The Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District's current Stage 1 mandatory restrictions qualify as exactly that type of declaration, meaning Herriman HOAs cannot enforce turf appearance standards that conflict with compliance under the current schedule.

The statute also protects homeowners who voluntarily reduce irrigation below HOA standards in response to a water conservation program, even absent a formal shortage declaration. If your HOA sends a notice or levies a fine for a brown lawn during the current Stage 1 restrictions, you have grounds to contest it directly under § 57-8a-218.

Use the following as a template response to your HOA:

"I am writing to contest the lawn appearance notice dated [DATE]. Under Utah Code § 57-8a-218, a homeowners association may not impose fines or penalties for dormant or brown turf when a governmental water restriction is in effect. Herriman is currently operating under a mandatory Stage 1 water restriction declared by the Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District, limiting outdoor irrigation to 3 days per week. My lawn's current condition is the direct result of compliance with those mandatory restrictions. Please withdraw this notice and confirm in writing that no fine will be assessed. If you have questions, you may contact Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District at (801) 565-4300 or jordanvalleywater.org."

How to manage your lawn during drought

Herriman's elevation and semi-arid high-desert climate supports cool-season grasses that grow actively in spring and fall but go dormant under summer heat stress. Under Stage 1 restrictions, understanding which grasses tolerate reduced watering — and which need supplemental help — is critical for protecting your investment.

Kentucky Bluegrass is by far the most common turf in Herriman's established neighborhoods, but it is also the thirstiest — it will go visibly dormant (brown) within 10 to 14 days of reduced irrigation during July and August. If you have bluegrass and want to maintain color through Stage 1 restrictions, concentrate your three weekly waterings in early morning before 10:00 AM, target 1 inch of water per watering cycle total, and raise your mowing height to 3 to 3.5 inches to reduce evaporative stress. Do not fertilize bluegrass with nitrogen during drought stress periods — it pushes growth that demands more water than you are permitted to provide.

Jordan Valley Water's turf conversion rebate program offers up to $3 per square foot for qualifying conversions from thirsty cool-season turf to water-wise landscaping. Buffalograss and Blue Grama are both rebate-eligible grass alternatives that are adapted to Herriman's elevation and freeze-thaw cycles. Native xeriscape plantings using Penstemon species, Salvia dorrii (desert sage), and drought-tolerant ornamental grasses also qualify. Visit jordanvalleywater.org to apply, and check conservewater.utah.gov for JVWCD's weekly watering guides calibrated to Wasatch Front evapotranspiration rates.

Questions residents are asking

What days can I water my lawn at a Herriman address ending in an odd number?

If your street address ends in 1, 3, 5, 7, or 9, you are assigned Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. You may run your irrigation system only before 10:00 AM or after 6:00 PM on those days. Sunday is not a permitted watering day for any Herriman address under the current Stage 1 schedule.

Can I water my lawn on a Saturday if my address is odd?

No. Saturday is assigned to even-numbered addresses only. Running irrigation on a non-assigned day is a citable violation regardless of the time of day. If you are unsure of your address parity, check the last digit of your house number — odd ends in 1, 3, 5, 7, or 9; even ends in 0, 2, 4, 6, or 8.

What rebates does Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District offer for removing my lawn?

JVWCD currently offers up to $3 per square foot for converting qualifying areas of irrigated turf to water-wise landscaping. The program applies to front and back yard conversions. You must apply and receive approval before removing turf — retroactive applications are not accepted. Visit jordanvalleywater.org for current program details, eligible plant lists, and the application form. Given the record-low 2025 snowpack, rebate funding may be limited and is allocated on a first-come basis.

Does Jordan Valley Water use smart meters to detect watering violations in Herriman?

Yes. JVWCD has been expanding its advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) across the district, including in Herriman. Smart meters transmit hourly consumption data, allowing JVWCD staff to flag accounts with high-flow events during prohibited midday hours (10:00 AM to 6:00 PM) or on non-assigned days. You do not need a neighbor complaint filed against you to receive a warning — irregular meter data alone can trigger a field visit.

My new sod was just installed — do I still have to follow the 3-day limit?

New sod and seed typically qualify for a 30-day establishment exemption from the standard day restriction, but you must register with Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District before or immediately after installation. Contact JVWCD at (801) 565-4300 to request the new-establishment exemption for your address. Without registration, your new lawn is subject to the same 3-day schedule as established turf, and inspectors responding to complaints will not know an exemption applies to your property.

Is hand watering my vegetable garden restricted under Stage 1?

Hand watering with a hose equipped with a self-closing shutoff nozzle is exempt from the day and time restrictions under Stage 1 rules. You can hand-water your vegetable garden any day at any hour as long as you are using a pistol-grip or trigger-style nozzle that stops flow when released. Leaving a hose running unattended — even in a garden bed — is not exempt and constitutes prohibited water waste.

Can I fill my backyard pool in Herriman right now?

Initial fills for new pool installations require a permit from Herriman City. For established pools, topping off to replace normal evaporation is allowed, but you must use an automatic float valve or fill slowly to avoid overflow. Draining and refilling a pool for non-emergency reasons during Stage 1 restrictions is strongly discouraged and may draw enforcement attention. Decorative water features and fountains must run on recirculating pump systems — open-drain decorative water use is prohibited.

How long are the current Stage 1 restrictions in effect?

The current mandatory Stage 1 restrictions are set to remain in effect through October 31, 2026. That end date is subject to change depending on reservoir storage levels at Strawberry Reservoir and Jordan River system conditions. Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District can advance restrictions to Stage 2 (further reducing allowed days) if conditions worsen, or lift them early if storage recovers. Monitor jordanvalleywater.org for official updates, and sign up for JVWCD's email alerts to receive notification of any stage changes before the irrigation season ends.

What time can I water in Herriman?

Watering is allowed Before 10:00 AM and After 6:00 PM. Watering outside these hours is a violation even on your assigned day.

What are the fines for watering violations in Herriman?

First offense: Warning first offense; $100+ for repeat violations. Repeat violations: First violation: written warning. Repeat violations: escalating fines starting at $100. Herriman City coordinates enforcement with Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District.. Contact Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District for the full enforcement schedule.

When will water restrictions end in Herriman?

Current Moderate Stage 1 Advisory restrictions are in effect through October 31, 2026. Monitor https://www.jordanvalleywater.org/ for the latest status.

How do I report a water waste violation in Herriman?

Contact Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District at (801) 565-4300 or visit https://www.jordanvalleywater.org/. Most utilities accept online reports and respond within 48 hours.