SLC officials voice concern over sewage use for planned ICE detention facility
Apr 6, 2026, 12:59 PM | Updated: Apr 8, 2026, 9:41 am
A building that has reportedly been purchased by ICE is seen on the west side of Salt Lake City on Friday, March 13, 2026. (Scott G Winterton, Deseret News)
(Scott G Winterton, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY — Salt Lake City leaders are once again voicing concern with a west side warehouse, that the Department of Homeland Security is planning to turn into an ICE detention center. This time the concern centers around sewage.
Salt Lake City Mayor’s Office spokesperson Andrew Wittenberg told KSL a big reason for their concern is because he said ICE still hasn’t told them how much sewage they expect the warehouse to put into the city’s system.
“All of these estimates are presented with the caveat that ICE has not provided us any of our requested information about the impact of the facility,” Wittenberg said in a statement. “We do not know their water demand, their average sewer flows, or their peak sewer flows.”
Wittenberg also said there are, “substantial constraints in the (city’s) wastewater collection system,” as is. And this warehouse could potentially hold as many as 10,000 people, according to recent comments from Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall.
Wittenberg also said, “a facility of this size and impact would likely require significant sewer infrastructure upgrades.”
He said at a minimum, that would include:
- “Upsizing about 1,900 linear feet of the adjacent 18-inch sewer line and 2,400 linear feet of a downstream 18-inch line to 24 inches;
- Upsizing a sewer lift station;
- Extending a force main approximately 9,500 linear feet;
- and Increasing the capacity of two sewer pump stations.”
And Wittenberg added, “without direct information and due diligence from ICE themselves, we can only estimate infrastructure needs and what upgrades may be necessary.”
It’s also unclear at this time whether the city would have to pay for all of those upgrades or if the federal government would chip in at all. But regardless, it is very likely local or federal taxpayer dollars would be used.
KSL reached out to DHS for comment regarding Wittenberg’s comments. A DHS spokesperson said in a statement, “As with any transition, we are reviewing agency policies and proposals. As Secretary Mullin said in his confirmation hearing: ‘I will work with the community leaders and make sure that we are delivering for the American people what the President set out… We want to work with community leaders. We want to be good partners.’”
An ICE spokesperson also responded to another one of KSL’s recent requests for comment. As part of a larger statement, the spokesperson said their, “sites will undergo community impact studies and a rigorous due diligence process to make sure there is no hardship on local utilities or infrastructure.”
Related: ICE buys Salt Lake City warehouse, sparking concern an immigrant detention center is coming
