Central Iron County Water Conservancy District Presents Water Reuse and Conservation Efforts to State Appropriations Subcommittee
Cedar City, Utah – February 3
Appointed to the Utah House of Representatives in 2019, representing District 71, Representative Rex Shipp strives to be a consistent voice for the people of District 71.
A good example of what he is doing for our community happened Tuesday, Feb 3rd, when Representative Shipp and Central Iron County Water Conservancy District (CICWCD) General Manager Paul Monroe presented before the Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environmental Quality Appropriations Subcommittee to outline the district’s ongoing water conservation, recharge, reuse, and groundwater management efforts.
During the meeting, Monroe highlighted the District’s Wastewater Reuse Plan, a project designed to take water that would otherwise be unusable, treat it to Type-I reuse standards, and provide water into the secondary system used for parks, cemetery, SUU, and agriculture. This approach helps reduce demand on Cedar Valley’s declining aquifer while maximizing every available drop of water.
Monroe emphasized the importance of collaboration with local agriculture. Through programs like this that will allow temporarily idling of irrigation wells. Farmers are able to maintain production while reducing groundwater withdrawals — effectively achieving near 100% conservation during those periods.
“Our basin is a closed system, and most of our water comes from groundwater,” Monroe explained. “With a current deficit of approximately 7,000 acre-feet annually, we must use every tool available to conserve, reuse, and recharge our water supplies.”
Conservation Progress
The District reported significant strides in conservation and water management, including:
- Development of seven artificial recharge projects
- Returning more than 7.6 billion gallons of water to the aquifer during wet years through recharge efforts
- Ranking as the fourth-leading county in water conservation statewide
- Leading agricultural efficiency initiatives, including LEPA and LESA irrigation systems, Partnering with Utah State University and Southern Utah University on water research and sustainability strategies
Wastewater Reuse Project
Phase One of the wastewater filtration system, the construction of a filter plant which treats reclaimed water to multi-use standards, is nearing completion. The total cost of Phase One is $5.4 million. The second phase will include the transmission pipeline to bring the water back to Cedar City and Enoch City secondary systems while connecting agricultural users along the way. The District has already secured $3.5 million, and with Representative Shipp’s assistance, the District is requesting an additional $4M in state assistance to match those funds.
Planning for Growth
Discussions also addressed long-term supply solutions, including the Pine Valley Water Supply Project and continued groundwater management planning.
Representative Shipp noted the urgency of proactive planning, stating:
“Iron County is one of the fastest-growing counties in the state. We ask all new developments to bring water rights with them. This is extremely critical, and we appreciate your support.”
Looking Ahead
Monroe concluded by reaffirming the District’s commitment to conservation, innovation, and developing additional water sources to ensure Cedar Valley’s future.
“Our focus remains the same,” he said. “Conserve what we have, reuse what we can, and responsibly plan for the growth of our community.”
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The purpose of the Iron County Water Stewards program is to recognize community members for contributing to the effort to optimize every drop of water in Iron County. The Central Iron County Water Conservancy District (CICWCD) is actively engaged in education, conservation, reuse and import projects to meet the growing demands on local water supply.
For every effort you make to conserve, we consider you a water steward, too. To Get to Know Your H2O, visit https://cedarvalleywaterutah.gov/.
