Could Utahns combat drought by turning wastewater from our drains into drinking water?

Its technology that's proven, used all over the world.

That's just one of a few strategies to keep water flowing from the ta in one of Utah's driest regions.

Running out of water is not an option.

I'm Lauren Steinbrecher with PBS Utah here in Washington County, where a massive water treatment facility expansion is underway.

With the area exploding in growth.

The demand for drinking water is only risin while the supply is shrinking.

The Virgin River has less water than it did 100 years ago.

It's hotter today than it was 100 years ago.

And so we have to adapt for that.

As general manager of the Washington County Water Conservancy District, Zach Renstrom is figuring ou how they can meet that demand.

One project calls for overhauling their water treatment plant.

What they're demolishing behind me is 40-year-old infrastructure that they'll replace with a larger two story facility with newer technology focused on enhancing water quality and taste.

Were making changes so we can actually treat more volumes of water to accommodate the new growth that's going on.

That will ensure that we'll have water coming out of this plant for the next 20 years.

A lot of the area's water is stored here in Quail Creek Reservoir, but another project will be expanding the area's reservoir system.

That project: buildin the new Chief Toquer Reservoir.

Next spring, hopefull if we have a good season, well actually be able to fill that reservoi and have another source of water here in Washington County for our citizens.

And finally, recycling wastewater.

Think shower and dishwasher water coming back into your faucets or used for irrigation.

So one thing about reuse that's really good is it helps us be drought resistant.

And we're able to capture that water, send it through a very, very sophisticated purification system to treat it to a very high standard, and then literally just put it right back into the county.

The complex, multi-phase project will take years to complete, but they've already broken ground on pieces of the water reuse system.

Planning for growth, while innovating against drought.

This is a big step, its exciting to see.

And making sure we have that, that safe water that we need.

To see more stories like this, follow PBS Utah on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.