Congratulations, Blaine County—we are No. 1! With the number of conservation-minded people and organizations in the valley, the attention on protecting the Big Wood River and Silver Creek, and living in a high desert, one would expect us to lead the country in domestic water conservation. Afraid not, neighbors—we lead in national water consumption.
At a time when Hailey seeks to secure yet more water with taxpayer dollars, and at a time when water shortages are at crisis levels, we are using 767 gallons of water per day per household! This compares to a national average of 179 gpd, and of 263 gpd in Idaho, which also leads the nation.
Living in Hailey, I can state that the city watering ordinances are a standing joke. Over the past two years, I have reported well over 100 watering violations, a tiny percentage of what I see each day from April to October: People watering in the middle of the day, every day, ignoring any rules or ordinances. These people know the rules, but with no enforcement willingly flaunt them. The city cemetery waters constantly, and valley golf courses (even the ones built on mountaintops) look like living water features. High-end residential developments from one end of the valley to the other are so green (and wet) they look like they are on a Hawaiian island.
The water use in Blaine County, and especially the valley, is egregious and indefensible. It speaks to double standards, nod-and-wink enforcement, the power of money, environmental arrogance and an abrogation of responsibility by everyone, from ordinary citizens to city councils to state government. It shames me.
Rich McIntyre
Hailey
