Washington County, Utah proposes $1.3 billion water reuse project

Utah’s Washington County Water Conservation District has proposed a $1.3 billion water reuse project to aid the state’s rapid growth, Fox 13 News reported. 

Last week, members of the district requested approval for $195 million in initial funding from the Utah Water Resources Board. The project is planned to be carried out in phases, with completion projected by 2042.

Fox 13 News said in its report that the ultimate project goal is to have as much as 25% of Washington County’s water supply reused.

The proposed water reuse project will involve constructing more than 60 miles of pipeline, three new storage reservoirs, and deploying new wastewater treatment technology.

By 2030, the water district plans to complete phase one of the project (about $413 million in cost) and target agriculture, the state's top water user.

The project's second phase will involve reusing water for drinking water sources; phase two is expected to be completed by 2042. Water reuse is relied upon heavily in many communities across the country, including Las Vegas and Los Angeles. In the St. George area, some parks, golf courses and even newer developments are recycling their water, Fox 13 stated.

The Washington County Water Conservancy District is getting federal grants, loans and other funding sources to make the $1.3 billion project a reality. In last week's meeting, the district acknowledged the possibility of a rate increase to help cover costs (though Washington County does have an aggressive tiered rate system for water users that other communities are starting to copy to force more conservation).

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