History of Diversion and Depletion Quantities

Revised: February 7, 2014

Some consumptive use values have been used by the division for many decades while others have been put into place more recently. This page provides some history on the where some of these numbers came from.

DOMESTIC:
Full-time residence0.45 ac-ft/yr (400 gpd)
Part-time residence0.25 ac-ft/yr

From at least 1949 to about 1982 the division used a value of 0.73 ac-ft/yr (650 gpd) for domestic use.

We have occasionally used different use values for part-time residences when supporting data has been provided to justify it.

This letter refers to an occasion where we used a lesser use value.

In August 2013 Ronald K. Christensen authored a paper, "Illegal & Outdated Water Duties/Regulations Causing Billions in Economic Damage to Utah". Boyd Clayton of the Division of Water Rights and Ken Bousfield of the Division of Drinking Water authored responses. All three documents are available for perusal.

IRRIGATION:

This document has been used to calculate diversion, based on tree diameter, for various types of trees.

STOCKWATERING:
Cow or horse a0.028 ac-ft/yr (25 gpd)
Sheep, goat, or swine a0.0056 ac-ft/yr (5 gpd)
Chicken or turkey a0.00084 ac-ft/yr (0.75 gpd)
Llama b0.0022 ac-ft/yr (2 gpd)
Ostrich c0.0036 ac-ft/yr (appx. 3 gpd)
Mink d0.00005 ac-ft/yr (appx. 170 ml/d)

a)These numbers have been used in Proposed Determinations since 1949 when books for the 71- and 73- Areas were published. They have been used since at least that time.
b)We received information on the water requirements for llamas in 1997 and started using the current value soon after that time. Prior to that it appears that we were using a value of 0.0056 ac-ft/yr (5 gpd).
c)This value apparently started being used in 1994 when we approved 71-4328 (a17954) for ostriches. 3 gpd equates to 0.00336 ac-ft/yr and it appears that the value in use is incorrect because of a typo.
d)This value is apparently based on information we received from fur breeders in Utah. We received additional information in association with 25-6742. A memo discussing our number can be found here.

If a water user can provide evidence supporting a different value, we can accept that value as outlined in this memo.

OTHER:

Water use for "other" water rights are typically determined on an individual basis. Guidelines for some specific uses have been developed.