Waterleaf Resources Media Information

Below you will find resources about Waterleaf and lithium extraction from the Great Salt Lake.

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How Do Waterleaf’s Methods Differ From Others?

Unlike others who use evaporative processes to extract lithium, Waterleaf utilizes a new method. This video illustrates Waterleaf’s revolutionary process. Instead of concentrating lithium by evaporating brine in large pools, Waterleaf pulls brine directly into a processing unit which separates the lithium, then injects the water back into the lake. This process causes no drop in water levels!

FAQs

  • Lithium is a critical mineral that is used in many different aspects of daily life. Lithium is the key ingredient in the batteries used in electronic devices including our phones, laptops, and electric vehicles. As our society continues to rapidly increase our use of batteries, more and more lithium will need to be produced.

  • The project will be located along the North Arm of the Great Salt Lake, also known as Gunnison Bay.

  • Unlike other industries that extract lithium on The Great Salt Lake, Waterleaf's unique process will not cause any decline in the lake. Waterleaf utilizes a non-evaporative process and will not cause any additional water loss.

  • Having domestic sources of critical minerals, including lithium, is incredibly important to the future of Utah and the United States.

    Increasing production within the United States is important to secure our country's future as we enter a new age of lithium battery dependence. Lithium demand is expected to grow by 20x in the coming years, and we need to be ready. This data can be found here.

  • The United States Geological Survey estimates that the U.S. used approximately 6,000 metric tons of lithium in 2020 and 7,200 in 2021. That is an increase of 1,200 metric tons in just one year. As demand continues to increase, Waterleaf's method of sustainable lithium extraction will be incredibly important.

  • Waterleaf uses modern direct lithium extraction technology (DLE) provided by US-based Lilac Solutions. Lake brine flows through the DLE process to remove the lithium, and then the lithium-depleted brine is returned to the lake.  Just like the water softener in your home, DLE is selective for the element it extracts, focused only on lithium.  Unlike other companies on the lake that use evaporative processes, this is a non-evaporative approach that will keep industry on the lake without impacting water levels. Waterleaf will not cause any decline in the water levels of the Great Salt Lake.

  • It takes several years to permit, build, and bring a commercial facility online. It is projected that global lithium demand will outpace supply as soon as 2027, so projects must be proactively developed now to ensure we have the lithium supply needed in the coming years.

  • The Great Salt Lake is a key lithium resource for the United States and puts Utah and Box Elder on the map at the heart of this new industry.  This project will double current US lithium production, making Box Elder County a key producer of lithium in the United States. This project will create jobs, economic growth, and generate millions in local and state tax revenues and royalties.

    There are other lithium projects being explored or developed in the United States, including in Texas, Nevada, and California. Many projects need to come online to meet the tremendous projected growth in lithium demand, and the Great Salt Lake is a lithium-rich brine resource that can be responsibly developed and will benefit Utah and the United States.