March 10, 2023 – Utah lawmakers have earmarked $50 million toward repair and maintenance of important aqueducts serving the state and budgeted additional funds for other projects aimed at improving its water supply.

Deseret News reports that four aging aqueducts — the Alpine aqueduct in Utah County, the Salt Lake aqueduct, the Jordan aqueduct and the Davis/Weber aqueduct  — will receive upgrades and repairs.  The state has been concerned about the four canal systems, which are on Wasatch Front and serve over 2 million people.  The Wasatch Front has a 43% chance of experiencing a magnitude 6.75 or greater earthquake in the next 50 years, according to federal seismic studies.  A big earthquake would deliver significant damage to the water systems and result in economic upheaval.

Dam safety, water reuse efforts and cloud seeding projects are also budgeted to receive millions in funding.