The Washington County Water Conservancy District is moving forward with infrastructure projects, including a significant development in La Verkin involving a 7-million-gallon storage dam, to secure a reliable water supply for a region facing rapid population growth. This effort is part of a broader strategy to diversify water sources as the Virgin River watershed reaches its full development capacity, according to district documents released in August 2026.
La Verkin Infrastructure Expansion
The La Verkin Pond and Pipeline Project, which the district issued an invitation for bids for on June 12, 2026, includes the construction of a 7-million-gallon secondary water storage dam, a pump station, and various transmission lines. The scope of work for the La Verkin project includes approximately 6,000 lineal feet of 18-inch ductile iron pipe, 3,000 lineal feet of 24-inch PVC pipe, and 4,700 lineal feet of 18-inch PVC pipe. The district held a mandatory pre-bid conference on June 17, 2026, at La Verkin City Hall to discuss the project requirements.
The One Water Strategy
The district's efforts are part of the One Water Washington County initiative, a collaborative strategy involving the district and municipal partners including St. George, Washington, Hurricane, Santa Clara, Ivins, Toquerville, La Verkin, and Virgin. The program aims to ensure a resilient water supply by integrating the management of surface, ground, and reuse water. This approach is designed to maximize all available water to benefit the community, economy, and environment in a region where clean water is a limited resource.
Regional Reuse and Purification
A major component of the regional strategy is the Regional Reuse Purification System, which the district and its partners, St. George City and Ash Creek Special Service District, developed to create a drought-proof water source. By 2042, the system is projected to produce more than 24,000 acre-feet of water per year, which is enough to serve more than 40,000 homes. To achieve this, the system will utilize a network of water reclamation facilities, an Advanced Water Purification (AWP) facility, new reservoirs, and 60 miles of pipeline.
Eastside Reuse Assessment
The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation recently issued a final Environmental Assessment on August 4, 2026, for the Eastside Reuse System. This specific project is designed to serve Toquerville and La Verkin by conveying non-potable reuse water to municipal and agricultural users in exchange for current outdoor irrigation sources. The project includes an Advanced Water Purification Demonstration Facility intended for public education and engagement. The Eastside system is independent of the proposed Central Reuse System, though both will eventually contribute to the overarching Regional Reuse Purification System.
Addressing Watershed Limits
The necessity for these new water sources is driven by the fact that the Virgin River watershed, a tributary of the Colorado River, is reaching its full development capacity. Currently, water suppliers in Washington County deliver approximately 50,000 acre-feet of potable water annually from surface and groundwater in the watershed, while the district's average annual water yield from existing facilities is approximately 30,000 acre-feet. The district noted that the Virgin River watershed is prone to excessive drought conditions and is insufficient to meet the demands of a population projected to more than double by 2060.
Five Key Water Initiatives
To manage these challenges, the district is working with the state and municipal partners on five key initiatives: conservation, reuse, development, conversion, and optimization. The conservation initiative aims to reduce per capita water use by an additional 15% over the next decade. The reuse initiative involves constructing a regional system to purify reclaimed water for irrigation and drinking. The development initiative focuses on investing in infrastructure to produce, clean, store, and deliver water. Additionally, the district is evaluating the conversion of agricultural land to municipal use and the optimization of groundwater supplies.
Long-Term Investment and Funding
The development of these systems represents a significant long-term investment, with the anticipated timeline for completion of the regional reuse system spanning approximately 20 to 30 years. More than $250 million in federal, state, and local funding has already been secured for the system, though the district continues to pursue additional funding to support the ongoing infrastructure needs of the growing Washington County population.
