Utah is now in its third decade of an officially declared megadrought, and groundwater across the state has been adjusting accordingly. For private well owners — especially in the agricultural valleys of central and western Utah — drought years are no longer occasional emergencies; they are part of the planning baseline. The owners who come through dry years with a working well are the ones who plan ahead.
This guide is a practical playbook for Utah well owners on what to do before, during, and after a drought year, with specific reference to conditions in Iron, Beaver, and Millard counties.
First, Know Your Baseline
You cannot tell whether your well is in trouble if you do not know what "normal" looks like. Every Utah well owner should have three numbers written down:
- Static water level (depth from the wellhead to the water surface, pump off, in feet).
- Pumping water level (depth after the pump has been running at typical flow for an hour).
- Pump intake depth (how deep the pump itself is set).
Take these readings in early spring and late fall every year. A simple sounding tape (about $80) and 10 minutes will give you the data. The gap between pumping water level and pump intake is your "drought reserve" — if that number is shrinking year over year, you have a planning problem coming.
Early Warning Signs
The wells that fail in Utah droughts almost always show warning signs months to years before they actually quit. Watch for:
- Static water level dropping more than 2-3 feet per year. Some seasonal variation is normal; sustained downward trend is not.
- Sandy water after a long pump cycle. Indicates the pump is drawing close to the bottom of the screen interval.
- Pump short-cycling on long irrigation runs. The water level is dropping faster than the well can recover.
- Air sputtering from faucets. The pump is sucking air — late warning, act now.
- Higher pump motor amp draw. Often a sign of cavitation as the pump runs in low water.
For more on rehab-able vs. terminal symptoms, see our companion piece 10 warning signs your Utah well needs rehabilitation.
Before a Drought Year: Get Ahead of It
Lower the Pump (When Appropriate)
If your well log shows the casing extends well below your current pump setting, lowering the pump 50 to 150 feet can buy years of additional drought tolerance. This requires a pump pull (typically $1,500 to $3,500) and verification that the casing and screen interval support the deeper setting. Don't lower into a screen — that wrecks the well.
Add Storage
Above-ground or underground storage (1,000 to 5,000 gallon cistern) lets a marginal well refill slowly while you draw on storage at peak demand. Storage tanks are $1,500 to $8,000 installed and dramatically reduce stress on the well during high-use periods.
Cut Outdoor Demand
For most Utah homes on a well, 60-80% of summer water use is outdoor irrigation. Drip irrigation, mulched beds, drought-tolerant landscaping, and an automated controller with a soil-moisture sensor can cut outdoor demand by half or more — often the single highest-leverage drought action.
Add a Pump-Saver / Low-Water Cutoff
A $200 to $400 pump-saver device shuts the pump off automatically if it loses prime, preventing burned motors during a drought-driven low-water event. Cheap insurance for an expensive pump.
During a Drought Year: Triage
- Re-measure static water level every 60 days. Track the trend in a simple spreadsheet.
- Stretch out high-demand periods. Run irrigation in shorter cycles spread across the day rather than one long set.
- Defer non-essential outdoor water use. Lawn watering, car washing, ornamental ponds.
- Coordinate with neighbors. If multiple wells in your area are struggling, you may all be drawing on the same depleted aquifer.
After the Drought: Re-Baseline
Once the drought breaks (and aquifers may take 2-5 years to fully recover even in a wet cycle), re-measure your baselines and document the recovery. If your post-drought static water level is significantly higher than your drought low, the well is structurally healthy. If recovery is sluggish or partial, that may signal the need for a deeper well, a relocation, or a serious conversation about rehab vs. drilling new.
When to Call a Driller
Make the call sooner rather than later. The worst time to need a Utah driller is mid-summer in a drought year — every rig in the state is booked. Specifically, call us when:
- Static water level has dropped 10+ feet since baseline.
- Pump cycles or trips during normal use.
- You are seeing sand or air in the discharge.
- You are planning a major increase in demand (additional acres of irrigation, expanded livestock, ADU, etc.).
For the broader statewide picture on Utah's drought and groundwater trends, see our 2026 drought and water table update.
Get Ahead of the Next Dry Year
Langford Drilling helps Utah well owners plan, lower pumps, drill deeper, or rehabilitate before drought becomes a crisis. Call 435-233-8954 to schedule an evaluation, or learn more about our residential well service and well rehabilitation service.