Gratitude for Flood Preparations

Thanks to all the volunteers and the coordinated effort from city departments to prepare for potential flooding this year. Weather conditions worked in our favor, and only minimal actions were needed. Sandbags were placed along portions of the Provo River and on Piute Drive. Parks, Power, and Public Works Departments cut and removed trees, debris, and sediment rock bars from the river channel in March to help reduce flood-causing risks. Runoff was continually being monitored by Storm Water crews, who were actively clearing screens in both Rock and Slate Canyons.

We had 1,397 volunteers come out to help us fill approximately 116,000 sandbags. This accomplishment took about 3,545 volunteer hours to complete. Provo deployed over 2,000 sandbags around the city and supplied over 14,600 filled sandbags to Spanish Fork and Santaquin City when they were experiencing flooding in their communities. Over 50,000 sandbags were given to Provo residents to help protect individual properties.

Provo’s Police, Fire, Parks, and Public Works Departments also developed plans and strategies for sandbag routes if flooding occurred. However, the substantial stormwater infrastructure improvements built since the 1984 flooding provided the conveyance systems to manage this year’s spring runoff. Public Works’ GIS team also developed a user-friendly site for Provo residents to learn more about potential flooding and what the city was doing to mitigate flood issues and concerns. City staff worked hard to provide residents with information regarding possible flooding.

A special and heartfelt thanks to our exceptional Stormwater Manager, Richard Snyder, and the stormwater crews who led the city-wide efforts. Richard started his career with Provo City Public Works during the spring flooding of 1984. With his wealth of experience, outstanding leadership, and invaluable expertise in stormwater management, he played a pivotal role in the city’s efforts to combat flooding this year. His actions in leading the mitigation efforts and making timely decisions significantly minimized the impact of flooding in the community, and he spearheaded the support for neighboring communities in need. We are truly fortunate that he was here to guide us through these challenges.

As spring runoff is ending, we still want to caution everyone to be careful around the Provo River as flows remain high. We are grateful for all the volunteers and employees who ensured Provo was well prepared for any potential flooding that could have occurred.

Provo is the Best Performing City in the Nation!

For an unprecedented third year in a row, Provo City has been recognized by the prestigious Milken Institute as the Best Performing City in the Country! An honor that truly highlights our community's outstanding achievements and ongoing commitment to excellence.

No other city has been recognized more than once by Milken for this award and Provo drove the point home by claiming this title not once, not twice but for the years 2021, 2022, 2023! Watch this video to see how Provo has defied all odds, securing this notable title.

Best Performing City Reel

It’s been a busy and productive three years for Provo City, but we’re going to give you a quick overview with a reel highlighting why Milken named Provo the best in the nation!

The significance of Provo being named the Best Performing City becomes clear when looking at the other heavy hitters who were in the running, but fell short: Miami, Denver, Phoenix, Raleigh, Austin, just to name a few. Our graphic below outlines the criteria to be named the nation’s ‘Best Performing City.’

What Business Leaders Say

We’re honored to be recognized nationally, but we are even more proud of Provo’s many influential community leaders who also recognize that Provo is the Best Performing City in the Country. Check out this video to see what they said and why they are high on Provo.

We all know what a great place Provo is—but it’s reassuring that our successes are being seen locally and nationally. While the Milken recognition is impressive, it is one of many awards Provo receives highlighting the high quality of services for which we have become known.

Best Performing City White Paper

For a more detailed look on the foundation of excellence that Provo has in a wide range of areas check out our deep dive White Paper.

Download White Paper

Celebrating the Crystal Clear Quality of Provo's Drinking Water

I am delighted to share with you that, according to a recent study conducted by WaterFilterGuru, Provo has been ranked as the third-best city in the nation for drinking water!

Provo received funding of $50 million for an aquifer storage recharge system, a project that will help maintain an adequate level of clean drinking water for the community.

This comprehensive study examined the pH levels of water across the U.S. using data from the Environmental Working Group and SimpleLab. Water quality standards were based on Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) criteria, which consider pH, alkalinity, hardness, and total dissolved solids among other things. These standards are designed to protect our health from contaminants that may be found in drinking water.

It gives me immense pleasure to say that our water supply has passed with flying colors. With this ranking, it's clear that Provo's drinking water is not only safe and clean, but it's also some of the least contaminated in the entire United States.

In addition to this incredible ranking, our city has also been recognized for having the fourth-lowest levels of chloroform and the fifth-lowest levels of bromodichloromethane among cities across the nation. This means that our residents are drinking some of the purest, healthiest water available.

This achievement didn't occur by chance. It is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our city's Public Works Department and the ongoing investments we've made in our water infrastructure. They have truly shown their commitment to maintaining the highest standards and ensuring the health and safety of our community.

However, let's not rest on our laurels. We will continue our rigorous efforts to keep the quality of our drinking water at its best, always ensuring it remains a source of pride for all of us.

For those interested in a more detailed analysis of our water quality, you can visit the WaterFilterGuru website for an in-depth water review. I encourage you to take a look, not just for the great news about Provo, but to understand the complexities of maintaining such high standards.

As your Mayor, my aim is to create an environment where every resident is safe and healthy. The quality of our drinking water is a significant part of that commitment, and this ranking underscores our success. Thank you for your trust and for being part of this wonderful community.

Congratulations, Provo, and here's to our clean, delicious water!