Utah County plans $1.6B water project to meet growing population demands

OREM, Utah (KUTV) — Utah County water officials are working on a $1.6 billion project to meet water demands as the county’s population continues to grow.

The Nebo Regional Water Project — developed by the Central Utah Water Conservancy District (CUWCD) — has been in the works for several years. The goal is to get more water to southern Utah County in an effort to keep up with the growing population’s needs.

Roger Pearson with CUWCD said the plan has two parts: Enclose the Strawberry Highline Canal and build a new water treatment plant in Salem.

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Pearson said the canal is a “more than 100-year-old water system,” and enclosing it will reduce flood risk and increase the volume of clean water available. The pipeline will continue to be used for agricultural and residential irrigation.

The second part of the plan is to build a drinking water treatment plant in Salem that draws from Strawberry Reservoir. However, the plan isn’t far along yet, with Pearson saying they have a “concept-level design.”

Officials are still working through the anticipated costs of carrying out the plan, with the rough estimate at about $1.6 billion. Pearson said the money would come from federal funding and local bond measures.

“Together, we’re going to build a project that’s going to meet the needs of the communities as they continue to grow and meet today’s needs for the irrigators,” Pearson said.

It may be a while before people start to see movement on this project, as conservancy district officials said they’re hoping to have it completed by 2032.

There are two open house events to discuss the project — one at the Payson City Hall Banquet Room on June 10 from 5 to 7 p.m., and the other in the Juab High School Gym in Nephi on June 12 from 5 to 7 p.m.

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