SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — As Utah begins to reach the dog days of summer, when temperatures are at their hottest, the Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities (SLCDPU) is reporting that water demand is rising.

On Thursday, SLCDPU said the water demand over the past few weeks has been trending higher when compared to the average water demand during the same time period over the last three years.

"To date, total water use has increased five percent, with outdoor water use up 10 percent," said Laura Briefer, SLCDPU director. "Though snowpack in our area was average this year and our reservoirs are full right now, overall runoff is lower than expected and much of the state is projecting drought conditions."

Utah's snowpack has been trending downward since the record-breaking year in the

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