Quail Creek Water Treatment Plant is an integral component of the district’s water system. The plant is capable of treating 60 million gallons of water per day — providing a safe, reliable water supply for Washington County’s growing population and economy.
The plant receives water from three sources: Quail Creek Reservoir, Sand Hollow Reservoir and the Virgin River. The water enters the facility through 60-inch pipelines capable of pumping 1,000 gallons per second and travels through numerous filters, purification elements and disinfectants during a four-hour treatment process. Certified lab technicians test water quality multiple times daily to ensure it meets or exceeds federally-regulated safe drinking water standards.
During its 20-plus years of use, the plant has undergone a series of expansions to meet increased water demand, improve efficiencies and benefit from new technologies. Following is a summary of major milestones completed to date:
- 1986 – original design complete
- 1989 – plant begins producing up to 10 million gallons of water per day. Cost $15 million
- 1997 – plant enlarged to treat up to 20 million gallons of water per day. Cost $15 million
- 2005 – plant enlarged to treat up to 40 million gallons of water per day. Cost $26 million
- 2006 – Washington County Water Conservancy District assumes operation and management of the plant from St. George city
- 2009 – plant enlarged to treat up to 48 million gallons of water per day. Cost $200,000
- 2011 – 10-million-gallon storage tank added to improve operational efficiency. Cost $8.7 million
- 2015 – plant filtration system expanded to treat/produce 60 million gallons of water per day. Cost $2.3 million
Total cost to date is $67.2 million.