House Bill 274, sponsored by Rep. Casey Snider (R-Paradise) would allow cities to set a “tiered” water rate system based on pushing conservation. … The bill is based off of a study commissioned by the legislature last year that explored upending how Utahns pay for water in light of crises facing the Great Salt Lake and the Colorado River. A lot of Utahns’ water is covered by property taxes, but some lawmakers argue that doesn’t cover the true cost of water. However, property taxes also fund critical water infrastructure projects. So the study ultimately recommended more aggressive tiered water pricing.