La Verkin treatment facility lets residents try purified wastewater in Washington County
ST. GEORGE, Utah (KUTV) — The Washington County Water Conservancy District is working on an educational facility intended to make potable treated wastewater more appealing to residents who may eventually drink it.
The $7 million Advanced Water Purification Demonstration Facility will be located off State Street in La Verkin. It will allow residents to walk through the facility, learn about wastewater treatment and drink potable reuse water. The educational facility is expected to break ground in the spring and open in 2028. The water district does not anticipate using potable reuse water as drinking water until 2040.
“While it might be new for us, it’s not a new concept or new technology. It’s safe improvement technology, so we want to be able to show that to the public, the technology that’s used to purify that reuse water to drinking water standards,” said Morgan Drake, reuse program manager with the Washington County Water Conservancy District.
Treating wastewater for culinary use is one part of the district’s Regional Reuse Purification System, which will produce more than 24,000 acre-feet of water per year by 2042 — enough to serve more than 40,000 homes.
The advanced water purification system will “purify reclaimed water, removing impurities and contaminants to make it safe for drinking,” according to the water district. The district said the water will meet or exceed federal and state drinking water requirements.
“The purified water will be blended with water in local reservoirs for storage before it is sent to a drinking water treatment plant to provide safe and reliable water to households and businesses,” the project site states.
More than 80 communities across the country have used water reuse and advanced water purification projects, according to the district.
More than $250 million in federal, state and local funding will go toward the entire reuse system, which also includes three water reclamation facilities, four new reservoirs, 60 miles of pipeline and multiple pump stations.
The county hopes the demonstration facility will help residents become more comfortable with the switch before 2040. Drake said potable reuse water could come sooner if needed.
“If we do find that we’re maybe growing a little quicker than anticipated or we’re hotter and drier and need more of those drinking water sources sooner, we can bring projects online faster and even slower if we find it’s the opposite,” Drake said.
Residents in St. George had mixed opinions about drinking recycled water, though all agreed a demonstration facility could help ease concerns.
“I think that actually would be a great idea, would be to learn more about it, because when you just hear wastewater, all you can hear is waste. That’s kind of what gets stuck in your brain, but I think if you were to see how it’s working, how it’s cleaned and learn more about it, I think that would really make me more comfortable with the idea of it,” said homeowner Kadee McElroy.
Homeowner Rebecca Shillander added she would be more certain about drinking it by “just knowing what exactly is being treated, what’s left in the water or not in the water.”
“I remember going to a recycled facility as a kid, and it encouraged me to want to recycle more, even now, 30 years later,” she said. “So, I think if people can understand how it’s treated, why it needs to be treated, and why we need kind of a sustainable option, that it just makes people more comfortable, and it’s great for kids to be involved in that.”
_______