Utah Irrigation: How Pumps Opened Groundwater, According to USU Extension

Utah Irrigation: How Pumps Opened Groundwater, According to USU Extension

Utah State University Extension describes Utah as the second driest state, with 1981-2020 average precipitation of 14 inches per year. Much of its agriculture depends on irrigation.

Key points from the page

• Early irrigation grew near surface water and along human-made canals. Later, pump technologies allowed groundwater development and conveying water uphill.
• Irrigation is concentrated in valley bottoms where surface water exists.
• Irrigation share of total withdrawals: the page gives 84% as a long-term average since 1950, 80% for 2015, and says it fell to about 75% more recently.
• By 2013 more land was irrigated by sprinklers than by surface irrigation (from 2013 subirrigation is counted as surface irrigation). In 2018 sprinklers irrigated about 56% of irrigated land.
• Alfalfa, other hay and pasture cover over 80% of irrigated land.

Not verified: water rights, well permits and pump sizing in Utah. Ask the state water authority and a licensed contractor; none of this was opened.

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General information only. Not plumbing, legal or code advice. Confirm with a licensed professional and your local authority.