After a dismal snowpack, sustained drought conditions, and a relatively weak monsoon season, southern Utah is preparing for the possibility of a water shortage. A newly proposed conservation plan outlines what the county will require municipalities to do should reservoirs run low. … The water shortage contingency plan, released Wednesday, would require each city to decrease its water use by a set percentage. … If municipalities fail to reach that reduction rate, they could face punitive pricing, ranging from a 300% to 500% increase from the standard.

Other Utah drought news:

• Deseret News (Salt Lake City, Utah): Utah’s water year leaves many worried — but there is hope
• USDA: News release: USDA designates four Utah counties as primary natural disaster areas​