Impact of Climate Change on Water Scarcity and Population Growth in St. George, Utah
NPR is dedicating a week to stories about solutions for building and living on a hotter planet due to the impact of climate change on water scarcity, population growth, and extreme heat in cities like St. George, Utah. Local leaders are looking into recycling sewage to stretch the area's water supply and sustain growth into the future.
Key Points
- Water scarcity, population growth, and climate change are major challenges facing cities like St. George in the American West.
- Recycling sewage and adopting conservation measures are key strategies to address water supply issues.
- Wastewater reuse can help alleviate water stress and mitigate the impact of drought in the region.
Pros
- Recycling sewage can help sustain water supply in drought-stricken cities like St. George.
- Efforts to reuse wastewater can potentially provide more than half of the additional water needed for future population growth.
- Conservation rules and incentives have led to significant reductions in grass lawns, promoting water conservation.
Cons
- The cost of building wastewater recycling plants is high, with St. George's plan estimated to cost over a billion dollars.
- Scaling up wastewater reuse may require policy changes and governance structures in some communities.
- Challenges include the need for additional reservoirs to store clean water from reuse plants.