ST. GEORGE, Utah (KUTV) \u2014 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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile it might be new for us, it\u2019s not a new concept or new technology. It\u2019s safe improvement technology, so we want to be able to show that to the public, the technology that\u2019s used to purify that reuse water to drinking water standards,\u201d said Morgan Drake, reuse program manager with the Washington County Water Conservancy District.<\/p>\n
Treating wastewater for culinary use is one part of the district\u2019s Regional Reuse Purification System, which will produce more than 24,000 acre-feet of water per year by 2042 \u2014 enough to serve more than 40,000 homes.<\/p>\n
The advanced water purification system will \u201cpurify reclaimed water, removing impurities and contaminants to make it safe for drinking,\u201d according to the water district. The district said the water will meet or exceed federal and state drinking water requirements.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe 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,\u201d the project site states.<\/p>\n
More than 80 communities across the country have used water reuse and advanced water purification projects, according to the district.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we do find that we\u2019re maybe growing a little quicker than anticipated or we\u2019re 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\u2019s the opposite,\u201d Drake said.<\/p>\n
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