April 2024 | Vol. 11 Iss. 4
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THE DESERT STATE: SOJO TAKES STEPS TOWARDS WATER EFFICIENCY By Bailey Chism | bailey.c@mycityjournals.com
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hen people think of Utah, they think “desert,” and during years with little snowpack, they’re not wrong. Today, Utah is widely known as the second driest state in the country. South Jordan leadership has been looking ahead for a long time now, wanting to provide for the city, and help guide the state towards a water-secure future. South Jordan has now announced the opening of a first-of-its-kind water purification facility. Amid growth in Utah, unpredictable snowpack and concerns about the Great Salt Lake, the city of South Jordan looked to secure the future of its water supply. The city has been planning for more than a decade on what they can do to secure a water supply without a water source, and city officials developed a unique educational demonstration facility for water purification. “This project, to recycle and purify reclaimed water to drinking water standards, has been many years in the making,” South Jordan Mayor Dawn Ramsey said. “When your goal is to have a sustainable water supply for the future as you grow, you have to get innovative, work with all partners at your disposal and find solutions.” They call the project Pure SoJo. It investigates a process that could eventually become official and add to the city’s water portfolio. South Jordan is the first city in the state to be issued a drinking water permit for recycled water after extensive scientific testing and working with other Continued page 8
South Jordan Mayor Dawn Ramsey and Pure SoJo team gather for the first taste of recycled water. (Photo courtesy Tyson Cole)
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