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Seeing water abuse, Utahns take to #SprinklerShaming

Social media • Officials encourage friendly ‘‘conversations’’ about saving water, or reports to conservancy districts.

A number of people have taken to social media to point out organizations and people who water their lawns during times that aren't ideal.

It was about 5 p.m. on a sweltering June day when Asa Reynolds got off the Frontrunner train in Roy to see sprinklers running at the Utah Transit Authority station.

Shocked, the Kaysville man tweeted a photo.

"Why are you watering at the hottest time of the day? You're supposed to water at night," Reynolds griped on Twitter, adding the hashtag #SprinklerShaming.

Amid the summer heat and concerns about the state's water outlook, Utahns have been taking notice when neighbors and businesses waste irrigation water — and then "shaming" them on social media.

Fox 13 weather reporter Brett Benson started the #SprinklerShaming hashtag after a viewer sent him a photo of Ogden City Public Works watering during a rainstorm. After Benson tweeted the photo using the phrase, the hashtag "kind of took off" with his followers, he said.

The strategy behind #SprinklerShaming is simple: If you see water abuse — such as watering grass in the middle of the day, watering during a rainstorm, or sprinklers spraying onto sidewalks — take a picture and post it on social media to, hopefully, embarrass the offender and stop the waste.

"We live in a desert," Reynolds said. "We can't be using water indiscriminately. We have to conserve."

A similar trend is underway in Southern California, where whistleblowers are posting videos of water-wasters on YouTube and Twitter, using hashtags such as #DroughtShaming.

But is online shaming enough?

Josh Palmer, a spokesman for the Utah Division of Water Resources (DWR), said no.

"It's really great that people care enough to point out when water's being wasted," Palmer said. "What we're trying to evolve to is helping people know how to talk about water waste ... helping them have a conversation about why it's important."

Ideally, he said, observers of water abuse would talk to their neighbor, or find the manager of the business that is abusing water. People can also report "water abuse" to local water conservancy districts — which have differing watering rules and penalties. The division offers tips for reporting abuse, a map of the districts and their contact information at http://www.conservewater.utah.gov/watabuse.html.

Alex Cragun, who launched a "SLC Water Wasters" Facebook page and Twitter account last week, hopes his social media efforts lead to the conversations Palmer envisions.

He and Alex Gilvarry run the accounts, tagging the organizations or businesses where water abuse was observed and asking: "Who do we get a hold of about your watering schedule?" and "Does anyone know who to contact to encourage them to change when they water their grass?"

Simply shaming an offender "doesn't do anything except make somebody less likely to engage in a conversation," Cragun said.

In its first days, the page has attracted nearly 400 followers, and some have been sharing their photos of water abuse.

Reynolds, who has tweeted about #SprinklerShaming a few times this summer, says calling people out online does have its limits.

"I think maybe we're ineffective at what we're doing online because the people we're trying to target aren't there, or aren't seeing what we're doing," he said.

But he said he does it because it's easy. To make reaching out to a water-waster less difficult, DWR offers templates for an email, text message or phone call about water usage.

For a neighbor: "I just noticed your sprinklers are running when it is going to rain soon. It is such an easy thing to have happen. Are you at home to turn them off, or is there a way I can turn them off for you? Water districts and cities are monitoring and fining, so I just wanted to check in with you as a friend." The template also suggests inserting a smiley face.

Or for a business: "I am (emailing) you to let you know that the property located at (address) had its sprinklers running within two days (before/after) a rainstorm. This kind of practice is very visible to potential customers, resulting in less patron loyalty and a hit to your bottom line."

The advice against watering two days before or after a storm comes from statewide voluntary guidelines. But local water conservancy districts each have their own rules — and some impose penalties. Districts typically restrict hours of the day when you can water, and how many times per week.

In the Weber Basin district, after three offenses (including two warning notices), your water gets turned off, said Tage Flint, the district's general manager.

But in the water district for St. George, where water is even more scarce and watering hours are narrower, there are no penalties, said Rene Fleming, the city's water and energy conservation coordinator.

Fleming said she proposed a $25 fine for violations, but her suggestion wasn't approved by the city council.

Each week, DWR's water conservancy program puts out a watering guide for each district in the state. The guide tells you how much to water based on where you live and the historical weather predictions.

In mid-June, for example, the state suggested once-a-week watering in Salt Lake County, twice in Washington County and not at all in Rich County.

This week's watering guide suggests three irrigations for all counties. But the guide includes this reminder: "If it rains in your area, wait to water!"

The guide can be found on slowtheflow.org or the program's Facebook page.

amcdonald@sltrib.com

Twitter: @amymcdonald89