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1. What is PureSoJo?

PureSoJo is a new and innovative project that involves purifying recycled water to meet and exceed drinking water standards. It will be a pilot project used to demonstrate advanced water purification technology that may be part of the answer to long-term water supply needs.

2. Why is South Jordan City embarking on such a project?

As part of long-term planning for water supply, the City is pursuing this water purification demonstration project to determine if water recycling can and should be part of the City’s future water supply. A water purification demonstration project in Utah will serve to educate water agencies, water customers and the general public on a valuable resource that is currently not being utilized. Viable water purification projects are happening in the United States, including Texas, Florida, Arizona and California. 

3. Why look at reclaimed water as a future potential water supply?

Planning for additional water supplies to meet growing demands should include an analysis of all water sources available to the City. The purification of recycled water will be necessary in the western United States, including Utah, to meet water demands for growing populations and the trend of decreased water supply.

4. What technology will be used to purify the water?

Current technology allows recycled water to be cleaned and made into a source of safe, reliable, and pure drinking water. A cost-effective, multi-step, ozone/bio-filtration-based treatment process has been tested in Florida and has consistently shown to be pure, clean water, meeting and even exceeding drinking water standards. The City is currently partnering with Carollo Engineering to ensure the right technology is used and operated appropriately to accomplish the goals of the project. Carollo Engineering and their professionals are leaders in water purification.

5. 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. A special permit has been issued by the State Division of Drinking Water 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.

6. Who is else is involved with this project?

In addition to City staff working on this project, other project partners include South Valley Sewer District, Carollo Engineering, State of Utah Divisions of Drinking Water and Water Quality, and The University of Utah Civil & Environmental Engineering Dept.

7. What will be happening at the demonstration project site?

Approximately 10 gallons per minute (GPM) of effluent water from the Jordan Basin Water Reclamation Facility, which is owned and operated by the South Valley Sewer District, will be cleaned through an advanced purification process that will produce water that meets drinking water standards. City staff will be taking water samples from the site and sending them to independent water quality labs that are certified to perform the tests required for this project. The purified water will ultimately end up back in our local water cycle by entering the Jordan River.

Within a year of startup, the City plans to offer educational tours for the public. The tours will focus on the important role that water recycling can play to meet the state’s water supply needs, how technology is used to purify recycled water and how the economics of water recycling make sense to consider this source for future water supply.

8. What is the current status of the water purification facility?

The facility is finished and has been running since March, 2022. Once the facility has had a year of testing then it will be opened to tours and taste testing pending State approval.

9. Who can I reach out to to get more information on this project?

Residents wanting to learn more can call and speak with City staff involved with the project to learn more, at 801-446-HELP.

Email Jason Rasmussen – Public Works Director

Email Raymond Garrison – Assistant Public Works Director