But before Utah gets to market-driven water conservation, it has to change how water districts are funded. Right now, a lot of them receive a good deal of money from property taxes. I’m not the first to suggest that this should go the way of the Water Wiggle. The first step is to make sure users pay the true cost of water, which is a lot more than what people currently pay.
The next step is to revamp what already is happening in many areas: Make the rates rise along with the amount of water customers use. Try this: Charge people less for drinking and showering than for watering their lawns, then give people smartphone apps that alert them when they’re nearing a cutoff for higher rates.
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