THERE are six major creeks within Layton City’s borders, some with smaller tributaries. It was these sources that gave early pioneers their water. The Holmes Creek Dam was first built in 1852 to store water for settlers in the Layton area.
This was also the oldest dam in Utah and one of the first in the western United States. However, the drought of 1855-1856 was so hard on crops, that Layton area settlers were forced to eat sego lily plants and wild onions to survive.
The only culinary water source in west Layton during pioneer times was a natural spring, located about 2700 West Gentile Street. People came for miles around to utilize that water. The land north of west Gentile Street in the 1870s was known as being “out on the range.” That’s because until the Davis and Weber Canal came along in 1884, there was a lack of irrigation water there.
The first known well dug in Layton was in the late 19th Century, a 40-foot-deep well, by Richard Ware.
The Layton Water System Incorporated on January 23, 1911. In May of 1911, the Layton Water System constructed a 6,000-gallon cement water reservoir at 1800 East Gentile Street. Water rates were 50 cents a month. Thus, some 61 years after the first person settled in Layton, consistent flows of drinking water were established.
Early 20th Century residents of Layton were only allowed to water their lawns for 30 minutes a day, or less.
In August of 1929, the first chlorinated water flowed in Layton City. It cost $1,500 for the equipment.
By 2015, Layton City had 15 reservoirs that store 22.3 million gallons of water; 5 deep underground wells and 8 Weber Basin Water Connections.
Layton City’s water system by 2015 boasted over 275 miles of pipe; more than 19,000 connections; and a daily capacity of 33.3 million gallons of water.
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