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Regional water-reuse plan presented to Hurricane council; officials outline phased pipeline and NEPA process
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Summary
A regional reuse-pipeline briefing described a phased program that prioritizes nonpotable reuse for irrigation and ag exchanges and later indirect potable reuse, an alignment study reduced the proposed pipe from 48 in. to 36 in., NEPA permitting is under way, and staff said staged design and construction will minimize simultaneous disruptions to local streets.
Trinity, a regional water‑district official, briefed the Hurricane City Council on a regional reuse pipeline project intended to expand reuse supplies across Washington County.
Trinity said the plan is a two‑phase approach: phase 1 focuses on nonpotable reuse for outdoor irrigation, agricultural exchanges and river exchanges; a later phase would pursue indirect potable reuse by further treating type‑1 reuse water and storing or exchanging it through Quail and Sand Hollow reservoirs. The presentation noted the program’s role in a 20‑year water plan that expects reuse to make up much of the new supply needed to meet county demand.
Design and permitting: Trinity said an alignment study originally analyzed routes sized for a 48‑inch pipe and that design has since been reduced to a 36‑inch pipe in places. The Bureau of Reclamation is handling NEPA permitting on selected alignments and the project team intends to stagger design and construction segments so only one street or corridor is under review or construction at a time.
Addressing safety concerns: Council members raised concerns about perceived risks of bringing treated reuse water into the city and about safeguards in the event of a treatment malfunction. Trinity said treatment includes disinfection and multiple barriers and that reuse systems worldwide have similar safeguards; using Confluence Park as an example, Trinity described sensors and automated controls that prevent off‑spec water from being delivered to users and that would instead discharge to fields until the problem is corrected.
Local impacts and next steps: The pipeline alignment will cross I‑15 and follow state routes and local roads in places; segments that affect Hurricane will include a pickup at the Ash Creek lagoons, retrofit work to local ponds and construction of pump stations for lift pumping and exchanges. Trinity said the project is in NEPA and expects public comment to inform final scopes before design proceeds. Council members were told they will see future, segment‑level design submittals and construction plans as the program proceeds.
Quote: "This is a regional system... reuse makes up the majority of our new water supply over the next 20 years," Trinity said.
Next steps: Public comment on NEPA is under way; staff will return with segment designs and schedules as the NEPA process advances.