Saint George
Saint George, UT water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
With about 72,897 residents, Saint George ranks as the 10th-largest city in Utah and a small but growing city. Water in Saint George is sourced chiefly from Colorado River, Great Salt Lake basin, and snowpack, the backbone of Utah's supply.
The defining water pressure here mirrors the state's: colorado river. One of the highest per-capita users in the country and home to the shrinking Great Salt Lake; St. George is building an advanced purification demonstration facility as the Lake Powell Pipeline stalls.
Statewide, Utah recycles about 13% of its wastewater with developing reuse programs. Locally, Saint George faces severe to extreme drought conditions.
The Utah state profile covers the regional supply outlook; the issues below detail what's driving Saint George's water future.
At a glance
- Population ~72,897 (10th-largest in Utah)
- Primary sources: Colorado River, Great Salt Lake basin, and snowpack
- Drought: severe to extreme conditions
- State reuse rate: ~13% of wastewater
Statewide drought history
% of Utah in severe+ drought (Extreme (D3) now).
Source: U.S. Drought Monitor
Common questions
Is tap water safe in Saint George?
Saint George is served by community water systems regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act. Statewide, 39.4% of Utah's systems have a recent health-based violation. Check your provider's annual Consumer Confidence Report for local results.
Where does Saint George get its water?
Saint George draws from the same regional sources that serve Utah: Colorado River, Great Salt Lake basin, snowpack.
Related water issues
Colorado River
The river that supplies 40 million people has lost roughly a fifth of its flow since 2000, forcing a renegotiation of how seven states share the water.
ExploreDrought
Much of the American West is in a multi-decade dry period that researchers describe as the most severe in over a millennium, reshaping how communities plan for water.
ExplorePotable Reuse
Advanced purification turns treated wastewater into water that meets or exceeds drinking-water standards — increasingly essential in water-stressed regions.
ExploreGroundwater Depletion
Aquifers from the Central Valley to the Ogallala are being pumped faster than they recharge, causing land subsidence and threatening long-term supply.
Explore