This section of the Yuma Desalting Plant represents one-third of the plant’s purifying capacity. Since 1992, the plant has only operated three times. /PHOTO BY GABRIEL SANDLER/CRONKITE NEWS
By Shelle Jackson | KVOA
Gov. Doug Ducey announced a historic investment in Arizona’s water supply during Monday’s State of the State address.
The plan would invest $1-billion to secure Arizona’s water supply over the next century. Details will be included in Governor Ducey’s budget proposal, to be released Friday.
One aspect includes water desalination.
“It is drought proof because of the sea water is going to be there even in drought so the reliability is at a different level than some of our other supplies,” said Tom Buschatzke, Director of the Arizona Department of Water Resources.
The ADWR is looking into a binational agreement with Mexico to desalinate water from the Sea of Cortez.
“I do think this is a very unique opportunity,” said Kathy Jacobs, Director for the Center for Climate Adaptation Science and Solutions (CCASS). “We have a very significant problem and it opens up possible solutions that we couldn’t have considered before.”
Mexico gets 1.5 million acre feet of Colorado River water, annually. One option would entail building the desalination plant in Sonora, Mexico, and using that water there. Mexico would then trade its CAP water rights to Arizona.
However, it may not be that simple. Margaret Wilder is a professor at the University of Arizona’s School of Geography, Development and Environment.
