Central Iron County Water Conservancy District Advances Major Water Infrastructure Project

The Central Iron County Water Conservancy District (CICWCD) continues to make progress on its Water Infrastructure Improvement Project (WIIP), a comprehensive initiative aimed at strengthening the region’s water supply through new waterlines, wells, and storage facilities.“As we are facing drought, and our water supplies continue to be depleted, it is imperative that we diversify our water supply,” said Paul Monroe, General Manager of the District, in a press release. “The more storage and varied sources, the better prepared we will be from an uncertain water future. The infrastructure improvements that are being installed today will have a lasting effect for generations to come.”

The WIIP began with the installation of a new waterline extending along Iron Springs Road into Basin 71 in the Escalante Basin. This effort was part of a private-public partnership with Building Zone Industries (BZI), completed in winter 2022-2023. In 2023, Cedar City also invested $13 million in water rights in Basin 71, which will now be accessible through shared infrastructure.

“The biggest benefit to our community with this line is our ability to share infrastructure and partner with Cities (Cedar and Enoch),” said Tyler Melling, Cedar City Councilman and District Board Member, in the release.

Project Includes 4 Million Gallon Water Tank

CICWCD / Canva

The current phase includes construction of a 4 million-gallon water storage tank—the largest in Cedar Valley—near Desert Mound Road, and a new waterline in the Eight-mile Hills area. Phaze Construction is building the tank, while Munford Contracting is handling the pipeline installation. A separate tank project in Cedar Highlands is also underway to enhance local storage and fire protection.

Additional infrastructure, including transmission lines along 4000 North and 6000 North, has already improved efficiency by looping the District’s system. Future WIIP phases will bring two new wells—one in Basin 71 and another in Cedar Valley—into production.

CICWCD / Canva

USDA Contributes To The Project

Funded through a combination of District contributions and USDA Rural Development grants and loans, the project represents a $19.38 million investment. Of that, $14.05 million is financed through a 40-year loan at 1.25% interest, with an additional $4.07 million in grants and $1.26 million in District funds.

“This project is critical for the long-term sustainability of our water resources in Cedar Valley,” Monroe added.