Just when it appears we are finally putting the Lake Powell pipeline proposal to rest due to lack of water, an even crazier proposal pops up … a water park in Hurricane (“Builders of a water park in Utah desert city say water won’t be a problem.”). According to the developer, the 15,300 square feet of water features would lose only about “43,200 gallons a day from evaporation.” Most of the water features, including a 1.5-million gallon pond plus multiple pools and a “river” will require culinary-grade water. According to Washington County Water Conservancy District (WCWCD) executive director, “there is no analysis of how much culinary water will be needed for the recreation aspects of the park.”
Aridification in southwest Utah is getting worse as our climate changes. If this resort is built, what happens to residents’ water supplies as our drought continues? Cities in California have run out of water; who can assure Hurricane residents, and the rest of WCWCD customers, that this won’t happen?
Despite what Hurricane Mayor Nanette Billings wants to believe, the water cycle doesn’t necessarily deposit evaporated water in the same spot where it originated. Water that evaporates in Utah may fall as rain in Texas.
The audacity of this proposed project boggles the mind.
Jean M. Lown, Logan
Donate to the newsroom now. The Salt Lake Tribune, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity and contributions are tax deductible