Did you know that South Jordan imports 100% of its drinking water? The City has no water source of its own; the State is experiencing a generational drought, dwindling water resources, and a shrinking Great Salt Lake. For these reasons, the City of South Jordan has committed to conserving water and researching alternative water sources. As part of long-term planning for water supply, the City is piloting a water purification demonstration project — called Pure SoJo — to determine if water recycling can and should be part of the City’s future water supply.
Pure SoJo — A Water Purification Demonstration Project
Water recycling projects have been around in the West for decades, typically using reverse osmosis. In the last decade, new technologies that use less energy and produce less waste have been developed, opening up new possibilities for landlocked places like Utah. The City of South Jordan is currently using one of those solutions in its water purification demonstration project to take pre-cleaned water from the South Valley Sewer District and further purify it to meet drinking water standards. A water purification demonstration project in Utah will serve to educate water agencies, water customers, and the general public on a valuable technology that is currently not being utilized. Similar viable water purification projects are currently providing cities with clean water in the United States, including in Texas, Florida, Arizona, and California.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Has this process been used before? Yes, currently this purification process is operating in Altamonte Springs, FL. This process was recognized by the International Water Reuse Association as market-changing water technology for 2018. It has been proven for over four years to meet the State of Florida’s drinking water standards.
- What technology is being used to purify the water? The plant is using a cost-effective, multi-step, ozone/bio-filtration-based treatment process, which has been tested in Florida and has been shown to produce pure, clean water, meeting and even exceeding drinking water standards.
- Where are you pulling the water from and where is it going? For the demonstration project, the water comes from the pre-cleaned water that comes to the South Valley Sewer plant, and the water goes back into the beginning of the process at the South Valley Sewer plant.
- Will this impact the Great Salt Lake? As this demonstration project continues, project managers will work to minimize any impact on the Great Salt Lake.
- How is this project regulated? The City has been working closely with the State of Utah Division of Drinking Water and Division of Water Quality on this project. The State Division of Drinking Water issued a special permit for the City to operate this project and purify the recycled water. The City will work closely with State officials, including sharing water sample test data for treated water.
- Can I visit the facility? Yes, starting this spring, the facility will have tours for anyone who wants to visit. It will be a great educational opportunity for kids and adults alike to learn how safe, pure, and sustainable water is made.
- Where can I go for more information? Visit Pure SoJo for more information.