Secondary Water Metering Project

Lehi City initiated a five to six-year effort in October 2022 to install secondary water meters on all properties within city boundaries. The Utah State Legislature’s requirement to install meters on all secondary water connections by 2030 prompted this project. We endorse the State’s mission to alleviate Utah’s drought and conserve water. Lehi City anticipates a 20% to 40% reduction in water usage by installing secondary water meters and providing residents with usage data.

CURRENT SERVICE AREAS

Hydro Vac Excavations, the City’s contractor for the secondary water meter installation, is making steady progress. Phases 1 through 4 are complete, marking a big milestone. Phase 5 Section C is near completion.

Zone 5C

Upcoming Service Areas

Work on Section A will begin May 16, 2025. This section is includes Green Park, Arnold Estates, and part of Jordan Meadows. Hydro Vac anticipates the completion will be June 20.

Zone 6A

To keep residents informed, the Water Department will send notification letters approximately two weeks before work begins in each service area. Hydro Vac Excavation will then place door hangers 1-2 days before starting work in each neighborhood. This two-step notification process ensures residents are aware of the upcoming activity and can plan accordingly.

To view the meter phases, visit PI Meters Phases

For concerns regarding leaks, or landscaping post-installation of a new meter, please contact Hydro Vac Excavation at 385-465-4687.

What You Should know:

Loan

The loan from the Utah Board of Water is for the state-mandated purchase and installation of pressurized irrigation meters.

How long will it take to complete the project?

With over 12,000 meters to switch out, the project will take 5-6 years to complete. Over this time Lehi City will conduct a rate study to develop an equitable structure, which will encourage water conservation.

Start of project

The secondary water metering project began in October 2022. The first community for the project was Traverse Mountain, which was completed in fall 2023.

New pressurized connections

Since 2016, all new pressurized connections have been equipped with secondary water meters. These meters are currently only used for data collection.

Rates

The irrigation meter installation project will take several years to complete. The City will also use a multi-year process to develop a new rate structure. This process will occur in a transparent manner with public input. Included in this process will be the determination of when the new rates will take effect.

Once the new rate is developed, it will impact residents based on their water usage. Rates for residents who use higher amounts of water could increase, while residents who conserve could decrease compared to the current rate structure.

Project Contractor

The City has contracted with Hydro Vac Excavations LLC for the installation of the water meters

For concerns about leaks, or landscaping after a new meter has been installed, call Hydro Vac Excavation at 385-465-4687.

Landscaping Restoration Steps

After the installation hole is backfilled, the soil needs time to naturally settle. The Hydro Vac team may need to return and add more dirt before sod can be laid to ensure a stable, lasting surface.
Sod is ordered in batches for the entire neighborhood, and replacement timing depends on supplier availability and delivery schedules. Hydro Vac is working hard to get yards restored as quickly as possible.

Have questions or concerns?

As the first step to resolving any issues, Hydro Vac request that you reach out to them directly at 385-465-4687 or hydrovacutah@gmail.com. Their call volume is high during the spring season, please be patient. If they do not address your issue, please feel free to contact our Water Department at (385) 201-1700.

frequently asked questions

When will I be notified that meter installation will begin in my neighborhood?

A door hanger will be placed at each home a couple of weeks before crews start working in that area.

How long will the installation take?

Once the hole is dug installation of the meter will be next day then it may be a couple of days before that hole is backfilled

How can I tell if I have a meter?

You will see a new purple water meter lid in your yard or the park strip.

What is the difference between a loan and bond?

A bond is just a type of loan. Lehi City will borrow $3,643,000 from the Division of Water Resources, use those funds along with the $10,000,000 grant from the State to purchase and install pressurized irrigation meters. The City will then repay the Division of Water Resources over a period of 15 years at an interest rate of 1%. Without this loan, the City would need to secure other financing, which would be at a higher interest rate.

How will the bond be paid for?

The bonds will be repaid from revenues of Lehi’s Pressurized Irrigation System. No tax revenues will be impacted as a result of the repayment of the bonds. The repayment of the bonds will influence system costs and user rates along with other factors such as: water acquisition costs, water share maintenance costs, inflation, and infrastructure maintenance costs.

When will the meter rates begin?

Will we pay meter rates year-long?

The question of whether rates will be incurred throughout the year will ultimately be determined by the same process used to develop the new rate structure. Most likely, the rate structure will have a base rate, which is paid throughout the full year, along with a usage rate that will only be paid when irrigation water is used.

Will my landscaping in the installation area be restored?

Yes. The contractor will restore landscaping as closely as possible to preinstall conditions. If a service box is covered by landscaping, it will have to be cleared for permanent City access.

Will the sod be replaced?

Yes, the sod will be replaced. For meters put in after the irrigation is turned off in the fall, new sod will be replaced in the spring when irrigation is back on and sod is available.

Who do I contact for concerns about leaks, or landscaping after installation?

For concerns regarding leaks, or landscaping post-installation of a new meter, please contact Hydro Vac Excavation at 385-465-4687.

How do I shut off my irrigation?

You will still have a stop and waste valve to shut off your irrigation connection. If your meter is located in the park strip, the stop and waste valve will be, in most cases, in the same location in your yard. If your meter is located on your property, you will have a new stop and waste valve close to the purple meter. In both cases, the stop and waste lid is a small round metal lid that says “irrigation.”

Where can I provide a comment, or ask a question?

watermeters@lehi-ut.gov