Sorrel River Ranch Resort and Spa, a luxury resort in southeastern Utah, faces accusations of using unsafe water for guests and instructing employees to wash dishes in swimming pool water. The Utah Division of Drinking Water issued an emergency order last week, forcing the $800-a-night establishment to cease operation of its surface water treatment plant and provide an alternative potable water source.
The state agency rated the resort's water system as 'Not Approved,' its lowest compliance designation. The order to halt operations at the treatment plant, which draws water from the Colorado River, was prompted by employee reports. These reports indicated staff were directed to wash dishes in pool water and serve guests bottled water, while also filling storage tanks with water of an unverified origin.
An inspector from the Utah Division of Drinking Water found that the treatment plant lacked a certified operator. Instead, a former housekeeping employee had reportedly been assigned the role. The inspection also revealed that the plant's chemical feed pumps, essential for treating the water, had likely been malfunctioning for an extended period. The chemical used in the treatment process, alum, had reportedly solidified into a gel, rendering it ineffective as a barrier against waterborne diseases. Regulators stated this could have exposed guests to "actively unsafe, un-disinfected surface water."
The resort is cited for multiple violations, including failure to report an emergency, operating without a certified operator, and having malfunctioning equipment that could lead to contamination. The state's public notice advised guests to avoid using the resort's water for any purpose, including drinking, food preparation, brushing teeth, or bathing.
To resume operations, the resort must post a 'Do Not Use' notice, supply bottled water to guests, obtain state approval for any alternative water sources, and hire a certified operator. Sorrel River Ranch must also restore proper monitoring and record-keeping, install a functional chlorine analyzer, and complete compliance sampling before its treatment plant can be authorized to restart.
Jason Roma, the general manager of Sorrel River Ranch, stated that the resort is cooperating with state and health authorities and is taking corrective actions. "The safety of our guests and employees remains our highest priority," Roma said in a statement. "We remain committed to resolving the matter promptly and in full accordance with all regulatory requirements."