Direct potable water reuse a step closer in Utah

Direct potable reuse is closer to becoming a daily reality in Utah, USA, after the pioneering Pure SoJo Direct Potable Reuse (DPR) Demonstration Facility in the city of South Jordan was named winner of the 2025 WateReuse Association Excellence in Action Award.

Utah’s record drought calls for alternative water sources

The state of Utah has only just come out of a two-decade long drought that marked the driest period in the state's history for hundreds of years. This period of drought coincided periods of over-extraction of groundwater, climate change and competing usage claims within the state.

The state’s iconic Great Salt Lake has helped to shine a light on water scarcity issues. Since 2022, a task force made up of key stakeholders and state agencies has managed efforts to halt the decline that led to as much as 60 per cent of the lakebed exposed and dry.

While levels in the lake have improved and drought conditions have eased, it is clear that water management will be the key to ensuring that the needs of all stakeholders, including industry and residents, are met in future years.

Pure SoJo from Carollo

The Pure SoJo facility was designed by engineers from Carollo, an environmental engineering firm from South Jordan, that specialise in wastewater. The Pure SoJo facility uses a sophisticated carbon-based advanced treatment system to transform wastewater into high-quality drinking water through multiple purification steps.

This sustainable approach meets or exceeds all regulatory requirements while eliminating the need for brine disposal associated with traditional reverse osmosis systems. Currently, Utah’s first direct potable reuse facility is for demonstration purposes only and all of the purified water is returned to the wastewater plant.

South Jordan Public Works Department director Raymond Garrison told media: “This project represents an important step forward for water reuse in Utah. As one of the fastest growing cities in the US, we recognise the need for sustainable water solutions.”

He added: “This project demonstrates how communities can proactively manage their water future while also advancing public understanding and regulatory frameworks for direct potable reuse in our state.”

Helping to change perceptions ahead of scale-up

The demonstration facility is currently open for public tours and taste testing, helping to break down some of the cultural and societal barriers that have been known to hamper the uptake or DPR water elsewhere, and affect behavioural change that will lead to widespread acceptance and adoption.

Carollo is currently working with South Jordan to understand what a full-scale facility could look like.

Carollo project Manager Stetson Bassett told media: “This esteemed acknowledgment speaks volumes about Utah’s unwavering dedication to sustainable water management and creating awareness around alternative water supplies. It underscores Carollo’s commitment to providing innovative solutions that serve communities and preserve our essential natural resources.”

Water reuse now a reality in Utah

After suffering two decades of severe drought and with water sources depleted or under stress, the project is demonstrating a potentially significant additional water source for both South Jordan and the wider state.

The treated and purified water addresses two challenges: increasing water demands and the need for responsible water management, and demonstrates that it has the potential to help overcome water scarcity issues for both current and future generations.

Excellence in water reuse

The WateReuse Awards for Excellence programme recognises WateReuse Association members, their projects and their partnerships that have made significant contributions in support of greater adoption of water reuse.

The WateReuse Association is a US-based trade association dedicated to ‘advancing laws, policy, funding, and public acceptance of recycled water’. Its members include utilities, businesses and consumers.

According to the association’s website: “Award recipients exhibit leadership in advancing education, advocacy, technology, and/or management of water resources, showcasing innovative approaches that others can follow to build resilient communities through water recycling.”

Excellence in action

The Excellence in Action award recognises consumers of recycled water, including utility customers, commercial enterprises, government agencies, NGOs, or partnerships between utilities and their customers, to showcase how recycled water is used for commercial operations, watershed restoration projects, irrigation or other projects.

To win an award, nominees must showcase exemplary water reuse projects, systems, and/or facilities that demonstrate the value of water reuse to the community served by them.