Funding for water reuse system in southern Utah approved

WASHINGTON COUNTY, Utah (ABC4) — The Utah Division of Water Resources recently took a big step in addressing future water usage in Washington County.

The board for the Division of Water Resources recently approved $195 million in funding for a new multi-phase regional reuse system for the area. The total investment for the project is $1.3 billion, which will cover over 60 miles of pipeline, four new reservoirs, new expanded water reclamation facilities, and a new advanced water purification facility.

Zachary Renstrom with the Washington County Water Conservancy District says the new reuse system has been in the works for the last 20 years, and will help capture water that goes through their reclamation facilities.

“We’re going to be taking this to a very high standard,” Renstrom says. “Once we treat this reused water to a very high level, we essentially put it back out to our community.”

Some of the reused water will be used at parks and schools, agricultural areas and residential areas. Renstrom adds that this could also be added to the drinking water in the future. Renstrom also says people that live in the area understand it is a precious resource and have gotten on to the idea of reused water.

“People understand it is safe and reliable, and they have been treating this water for decades safely and efficiently,” he says. “There are very strict requirements put in place to make sure this water is treated to a very high level.”