Conservation groups push back against proposed water treatment plant near Great Salt Lake

Conservation and advocacy groups in Utah are actively opposing a proposed wastewater discharge permit for a new treatment plant in Tooele County, near the Great Salt Lake. They argue that the plant's operations, particularly the discharge of 260,000 gallons per day of industrial brine directly into the lake's transitional waters, pose a significant threat to wetlands and various species, including shorebirds and waterbirds.

The Tooele Valley Public Infrastructure District is proposing the facility to treat groundwater and supply potable water for the Utah Inland Port Authority's Interstate Business Park, which is marketed as a location for data centers, manufacturing, and logistics. This opposition comes after Utah Governor Spencer Cox issued an executive order in May, requiring state agencies to prioritize water and air quality, mitigate wildlife impacts, and ensure data center developments align with Utah's long-term interests, following public pushback against data center expansion.

Brian Moench, board chair of Utah Physicians for a Health Environment, stated that the proposed permit indicates no real change despite the governor's order, accusing the state of sacrificing the environment for "Big Tech billionaires." Heather Dove of Great Salt Lake Audubon added that the project would accelerate habitat loss already impacting the lake's ecosystem, running counter to the state's conservation commitments.

The Utah Division of Water Quality is hosting a public hearing on the permit in Salt Lake City, where stakeholders are expected to voice their concerns.