Water scarcity, population growth and climate change are on a collision course in the American West. That’s clear in cities like St. George, a desert community surrounded by stunning red rock cliffs and mesas in Utah’s southwest corner. The population is booming and climate change is making heat more intense and rain less reliable. But local leaders have a plan to stretch the area’s water supply by turning to its sewage — a solution that could help other drought-stricken cities, too. … Reusing water that would have otherwise flowed downstream to Lake Mead — the nation’s largest reservoir — is the centerpiece of the district’s long-term water plan. But it will come at a steep cost: over a billion dollars. … St. George’s quandary is a microcosm of the challenges cities face across the Western U.S. as overuse and drought strain the Colorado River and the basin’s seven states fight over how the river’s water gets distributed in the future.

Other water recycling news:

• Indian Wells Groundwater Authority: News release: Recycling water is a good strategy, but can’t be the only strategy​