Ivins using data from science fair project to aid in determining water policy

IVINS — As the city of Ivins is continuing to formulate its new water ordinance to deal with the drought, city leaders are turning to a unique source to help them formulate that policy: a science fair project.

Bella and Issac Gillette’s science fair project as presented to the Ivins City Council, Ivins, Utah, March 24, 2022 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News

During a recent City Council meeting, in the midst of a discussion about the ongoing work to formulate the ordinance, Ivins Public Works Director Chuck Gillette said his kids had made a science project comparing whether lot size or landscaping determines has a greater impact on water usage. 

In response, the council and Mayor Chris Hart requested that Gillette bring in the project to a future meeting. Last Thursday, that’s just what Gillette did and the Ivins City Council meeting suddenly became a science fair. 

And the presentation drew the praise of council member Lance Anderson.

“What they did there was exactly what I was going to ask you for anyway,” Anderson said. “They really showed us how we use our water.”

Gillette said the project, titled “Lot Size vs. Landscape,” was a joint effort by his daughter Bella, now 15, and son Issac who will soon turn 14. And admittedly, Gillette said he had a hand in it as well.

“They did win a ribbon on that,” Gillette told the council.

Before it gained the accolades of the City Council, the project was a winning one that ultimately advanced to the annual Southern Utah University Science and Engineering Fair

The Gillette children used what any good science fair project does: The scientific method. 

Council member Lance Anderson at the Ivins City Council meeting, Ivins, Utah, March 24, 2022 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News

It started with a hypothesis that the choice of landscape has a more significant impact on water usage than the size of a lot. The Gillettes then used actual data provided by their father on 20 different subdivisions in Ivins, which included the type of landscaping used and the average water usage. 

Gillette said while it helped his kids to have a father who is in charge of all public works in the city, they actually helped him with his job as well. 

“There was a water waster culprit in there I found out about,” Gillette said. “I told them and they’ve fixed it.”

While providing help for their father was a fringe benefit, ultimately Bella and Issac Gillette were trying to prove or disprove their hypothesis. 

And one piece of data, in particular, seemed to do that.

While larger lots usually resulted in more water usage, there were outliers that seemed to use less water than smaller lots. Those large lots that saved water had something in common: the use of native, desert vegetation – especially in the Kayenta area.

Hypothesis proven.

Sign at the entry to the Kayenta residential, arts and business district, Ivins, Utah, Dec. 15, 2021 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News

“The Kayenta subdivisions used substantially less water despite having larger lots,” Chuck Gillette told St. George News. 

The council asked for the data from the science fair project, which will be included with other data the city is utilizing to come up with a new ordinance on landscape and water usage in Ivins. 

Ivins is one of several Washington County cities putting together a new water ordinance that will apply to new construction and is based on a model ordinance put together by the Washington County Water Conservancy and other local cities during November’s water summit.

Neighboring city Santa Clara has already finalized their ordinance and St. George is also nearing completion on its own ordinance. 

Using work meetings, the council said they will try to finalize a draft ordinance before its April 7 meeting. 

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2022, all rights reserved.

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