2026 Water Outlook and Startup

As we look forward to this year’s irrigation season, I am sure there are many of you wondering what to expect.    Here are a few answers for you.

 

When will Midway’s irrigation system start up?

• Our irrigation water season starts approximately April 15th each year, HOWEVER due to the extreme drought conditions, low snow pack and short winter, we are currently making needed adjustments to our season start up. As of right now, please check the STATUS page for the most up to date information. We will attempt to have to system ready for use by MAY 1st.   We usually have our main pipes pressured up and ready a few days before that, however, this year will be different.  With water limitations due to low snowpack, we will be delaying our start up to the last minute.  Do not plan on having irrigation water prior to MAY 1st.  After that, it may still take a few days to get everything up and running. We recommend that you wait as long as possible before watering to ensure that we can provide water to everyone. (We urge residents to hold off as long as possible to start watering.  Especially since we have had storms rolling through providing more than enough water for lawns. May 15th would be a good target date). If we all do our part to conserve, we will make it through this season! 

 

Will we have enough water to make it through the season?

• That is a question that we can’t answer yet.  It depends on spring storms, snow water runoff quantities and our storage.   With the drought continuing, state water regulations will likely be more stringent than any year we have seen requiring adjustments throughout the season.

 

Will Midway irrigators be following a restricted flow irrigation schedule?

• ​Yes.   Again, due to low water flow projections, we will be following our lawn irrigation water schedule from the start of the season.   That schedule allows lawn and landscape irrigation three days a week in Midway. 

 

Agriculture Irrigation Schedules

• Midway Irrigation will schedule all agriculture Irrigation.  FYI, Ag irrigation will be running around the clock, each in their turn.   They will be running even on weekends. Ag systems are designed to sprinkle water on each part of a field for 24 hours once every 20 days or they can use 12 hour intervals every 10 days.   It may look like they are running in the same place day after day however, they are not.  At least every 24 hours, sprinklers are sequentially moved through a field in 60-foot stations.  As water becomes more scarce, farmers will cut back on the number of heads they can use each turn, reducing their water use. This process should deliver enough water to grow a crop this season. Farmers will always be the first to absorb cut backs in water flow.  

 

Other considerations:

• Most of you have noticed construction on Main Street at River Road.

• UDOT crews and contractors are preparing the area for the new stop light.  Due to the disruption, many feet of our service lines were removed and will have to be reinstalled.  Plans are to have it re-installed by April 15th.   We are also affected by the re-design and construction of the Homestead Golf Course.  Most of Midway is served by water supply lines running through the course.  Both construction projects are working against the clock to complete enough to get our supply lines re-installed and operational.  Delays could cause some delays in irrigation system start up.  Crews are doing their best to stay on schedule.    We will keep you informed.