The City of Driggs is asking everyone that is connected to the City of Driggs Water Supply to volunteer for water conservation measures this summer. By staggering irrigation days, we can reduce the strain on our water supply during the warmest months of the year. 

The City was required to turn off one water source (natural spring) and is anticipating another source (well) to go dry this summer.  Currently, the water system is meeting demands, but we need everyone to do their part to keep it that way.  You can help us deliver adequate water flow to all residents by volunteering to set your lawn watering schedule to the staggered days recommended for your address number. This ensures that our water well has time to deliver enough supply across the whole city without being overwhelmed on any given day or during the busiest times of the day.

Programs like these have been shown to reduce residential per-capita water use by approximately 30% and help encourage smart water use. Please set your lawn sprinkler system or remember to only turn on your sprinklers on these set days. Assigned-day watering only applies to sprinklers. Drip systems and hand watering with a hose are okay anytime. Running your sprinklers three days a week under the assigned-day watering schedule keeps your yard healthy and your water bill low while avoiding waste.

The City Council addressed the water situation with Public Works Director, Jay Mazalewski and Keller & Associates, a civil engineering firm during the April 19, 2022 City Council Meeting.  Read the TVN's article"Driggs eyes conservation measures due to city water supply issue"  for more details about the current supply issue. 

If the demand for water exceeds our current supply this summer, the City could be forced to mandate water conservation measures or even a boil advisory. Please do your part to help us avoid these measures.

DO NOT WATER:

On Mondays

If windy or rainy

Between noon - 6 pm.

For Odd Addresses

House numbers ending in 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9

Run Sprinklers ONLY on:

Wednesdays

Fridays

Sundays

For Even Addresses

House numbers ending in 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8

Run Sprinklers ONLY on:

Tuesdays

Thursdays

Saturdays

Outdoor watering increases water use of the average residential customer by up to 10 times during the dry summer months. Beyond the clear conservation benefit, assigned-day watering also helps to level off-peak usage during the high-demand season.

Outdoor watering increases water use of the average residential customer by up to 10 times during the dry summer months. Beyond the clear conservation benefit, assigned-day watering also helps to level off peak usage during the high-demand season.

Using the “Water & Wait” Method with Sprinkler Systems: how long to run sprinklers on your watering days

On your assigned watering days, water your yard until puddles begin to form, then stop and wait for it to soak in (about 1-2 hours). Repeat this process until water penetrates 6-8 inches deep, which can be determined by easily pushing a screwdriver into the damp soil.

Need Help with Your Irrigation Controller?

Below we have provided links to several of the most common manufacture’s online irrigation-controller manuals.

• Hunter
• Irritrol
• Orbit
• Rainbird
• Toro

Drip Systems and Hand Watering: slower, controlled releases that can be more frequently applied

Hand watering or running drip systems to irrigate flowerbeds, vegetable gardens, trees, and shrubs is permitted any day of the week.

Please reach out to our Utility Clerk with any additional questions. Contact details are at the bottom of this page.

Effective October 1, 2021

The City charges water/sewer users for access and use of the utilities.  Rates are revisited yearly during the budget cycle to assure users are paying appropriate rates.  Water and sewer users are charged a base rate plus a usage rate each month. 

Water services are metered and read monthly to determine the quantity of water used each month in thousands of gallons.  Sewer usage is based on the average of water meter readings taken for the months of November - April (non-irrigation months) and applied throughout the year.  Average for sewer only accounts and account open less than six month, a modified City average will be calculated and applied to the account.

Outside City Limits:

Usage (flow) rates for water & sewer users outside the corporate city limits of Driggs shall be 1.5 times the rates stated above.

Extra Water Taps: 

Billed and served at the same rate as a water service. Where flow from an extra tap does not result in additional sewer flow, such extra water taps will not be charged for sewer service. 

Construction Bulk Water: 

The City of Driggs does not allow the public or contractors to connect to fire hydrants for bulk water purposes. Instead the city provides a fill location at the City Public Works Shop.

Bulk Water Application

Annual per Company Permit Fee: $150.00

The rate for water used by permit holders shall be 1.5 times the Monthly water consumption rate for every 1,000 gallons purchased.  City of Driggs Departments are exempt from Bulk Water Fees.

New User Deposit: 

To open a new utility account, users shall pay a deposit as follows: Water = $75 per action and Wastewater = $75 per account This will be credited back to the account after 6 months, if the account remains in good standing.

Utility Account Service Forms

Water & Sewer Service Application Form - For new customers with an existing or new connection.

Monthly Water & Sewer Usage (Flow) Rates Calculation:

All new residences or commercial buildings within the City of Driggs, or within 300' of an existing sewer line, are required to connect to the City’s utility system.  See Application form below to apply for a service connection and set up a utility account. An online form will be available soon.

Water & Sewer Connection Application (Online Form)

Water & Sewer Connection Application (PDF)

Water & Sewer Service Application (Online Form)

Water & Sewer Service Application (PDF)

Water Supply Fixture Units (WSFU), as specified and enumerated in the Uniform Plumbing Code, shall be used to determine water and sewer connection fees. All connection fees must be paid in full prior to the approval of a building permit or commencement of the service, whichever comes first. If a new structure is not within 300' of an existing line, a building permit will not be issued until the owner either negotiates with the City to extend water and/or sewer lines, or purchases a septic permit from District 7 Health Department.

Water Connection

Water Connection fees for sites within the corporate limits of the City, are shown below for a 1 inch connection. All rates and fees for water users outside the corporate city limits of Driggs shall be 1.5 times the in-city fee. 

1" Line Connection Cost $1,785

1" Line Meter Fee $205

MXU Fee $163

Install of Both $65

TOTAL for 1" Line Connection $2,218

All connection fees including larger connections within the City limits .

Sewer Connection

For sites within corporate limits of the City, the minimum sewer hookup fee shall be $2,625 for a structure with 25 WSFU or less. Structures with greater than 25 WSFU shall be charged $105 per Water Supply Fixture Unit (WSFU). WSFU counts for hose bibs and water sprinklers will not be included in the WSFU count used to determine sewer hookup fees. All rates and fees for sewer users outside the corporate city limits of Driggs shall be 1.5 times the in-city fee. 

Damage Deposit

If the connection requires excavation in the right-of-way, a refundable road damage deposit is required prior to approval of the connection. Minimum road damage deposit is $2,000. If during the construction a fire hydrant is damaged, a $3,000 fee may apply.

Fats, oils and grease (FOG) do not mix with water (insoluble) and have a tendency to separate from a liquid solution.  When fats, oil and grease are poured down the drain, they tend to stick to the sewer pipe walls creating layers of buildup that restrict wastewater flow.  This problem requires pipes to be cleaned more frequently, causes pipes to be replaced sooner than expected, and causes blockages that can result in sewer overflows.

Fats, oil and grease are natural by-products of the cooking and food preparation process.  Common sources include food scraps, meat fats, cooking oils, lard, baked goods, salad dressings, sauces, marinades, dairy products, shortening, butter and margarine, coffee grinds, eggshells, grain, rice, seeds, etc.

Residential households contribute build-up in the sewer lines because of the amount of grease washed into the plumbing system, usually through the kitchen sink.  When grease causes blockages in the sewer sewer line, Sanitary Sewer Overflow's (SSO's) can occur.

The easiest way to solve the grease problem is to keep FOG out of the sewer system in first place by following these easy disposal Tips:

• Never pour grease, fats, or oil down the sink or garbage disposal.
• Pur FOG into jars, cans, and plastic tubs.  Let contents cool and solidify.  When the container is fool, dispose of with your household trash.
• Mix cooking oil with an absorbent material such as cat litter or coffee grounds, place in a lidded container and dispose of with your household waste.
• For greasy pans, pour off grease into a container mentioned above, and use a paper towel to wipe out the remaining grease in the pan prior to washing.

Running Hot Tap Water

Running hot tap water down the drain will not help grease float through the sewer pipe because the water will eventually cool as it flows through the pipe and grease will become solid again.

Room Temperature Oils

If oils remain liquid at room temperature (such as extra virgin olive oil or toasted nut oils) are disposed down the drain, they will contribute to FOG buildup in sewer pipes, where temperatures can dip low enough to cause solidification of these oils.

Soaps and Detergents

The Use of soaps and detergents that claim to dissolve grease will not protect against grease buildup.  Soaps may initially break up grease, but as it ravels further downstream it will eventually lose this ability grease will begin to accumulate in your home's plumbing and sewer laterals.

Garbage Disposals

Running the garbage disposal will do nothing to protect your drain lines from accumulating grease.  Garbage disposals only shred leftover fat into smaller pieces; they do not get rid of fats that create grease.

The best solution is always prevention, so keep FOG out of your pipes and the sewer system to avoid the inconvenience of having to call a drain cleaning service.

FOG prevention is implemented and enforced though plan checks, inspections, and education.

All FSEs are required to register their Grease Control Devices with the Public Works Department to ensure that such devices are properly sized and maintained.

Fat Oils Grease Ordinance 356-15

Grease Trap Logbook

Pre-Treatment Ordinance 355-15

"Do's and Don'ts"