Ski resort Arizona Snowbowl has found a solution to the overwhelming problem of global warming: Make snow out of sewage effluent. While the idea of skiing on sewage sounds like a far cry from welcoming, a U.S. federal appeals court ruled in favor of the resort’s “upgrade” plans this past February. The plans were fought by a bundle of environmental groups and 13 American Indian Tribes who view the sewage snow as a desecration. “It’s a disaster, culturally and environmentally,” Taylor McKinnon of the Center for Biological Diversity told the New York Times.

Despite being filled with antibiotics, steroids, hormones, pharmaceuticals and antidepressants, the artificial snow will be put into effect this coming season. This will make Arizona Snowbowl the first-ever ski resort to use 100 percent sewage snow. Business owners are hoping the sewage will bring in as much as $35 million for the local economy. Nevertheless, the artificial snow has caused protests, hunger strikes and arrests. Many are calling it the new war for the West’s public lands. 

“A ski resort, to remain competitive, has to hit certain dates. They have to guarantee they’ll be open by Thanksgiving, Christmas at the latest,” Jim Bedwell, director of the Forest Service’s Recreation and Heritage Resources, told the New York Times. 

The new sewage effluent will make it possible for skiers and their families to start their ski seasons as early as November. If you do find yourself in Arizona itching for a ski trip, just remember Frank Zappa’s wise words: “Watch out where the huskies go, and don’t you eat that yellow snow.” Or, in this case, sewage snow.

[Via NYTimes]

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Claudia McNeilly is an editorial intern at the Toronto Standard. You can follow her on twitter at @claudiamcneilly

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