The Implementation of Desalination Projects in Arizona: Policies, Institutions & Regulations Multi-State Salinity Coalition February 17, 2011 Chuck Cullom CAP Senior Policy Analyst
Overview Desalination Opportunities Vary Greatly By Source And Location Arizona Lacks Linkages Between Regulations and Policies For Rapid Adoption Of Desalination Technologies Institutional Relationships Vary: International, Multi-state, Regional, and Local Collaborations
Potential Desalination Sources Brackish Groundwater Poor-quality Aquifers Impaired-quality Aquifers Ag Drainage Gulf of California/Pacific Ocean
Water Stressed Area (2030)
Arizona’s Early Leadership 1966 – Town of Goodyear Brackish Groundwater (ED) 1992 – Yuma Desalting Plant Ag Drainage (RO)
Quantity And Quality NOT Integrated in Arizona Water Quantity – ADWR Assured Water Supply Issues - Brackish Groundwater Colorado River Accounting/Return Flow Accounting – Ag Drainage Water Quality - ADEQ Aquifer Protection Issues – Concentrate Management and Discharges
Assured Water Supply Requirements Groundwater Management Act (1980) Active Management Areas “Safe-yield” Goal Most Groundwater Pumping is “Mined” No Relief For Poor-qualify Aquifers
GW Management Areas Prescott AMA: safe-yield by 2025 Phoenix AMA: safe-yield by 2025 Tucson AMA: safe-yield by 2025 Pinal AMA: preserve agriculture as long as feasible while preserving groundwater for future needs (1,000 feetr depth to water limit) Santa Cruz AMA: maintain safe-yield, prevent long-term water table declines INA – Irrigation Non-expansion Areas Goals
Aquifer Protection Program Protects All Aquifers From Impairment All Discharges YDP Example No Relief For Poor-qualify Aquifers No provisions for deep well injection Reduced options for wetlands/halophytes
Institutional Approaches International: Ocean Desalination US-Mexico Discussions Multi-State Collaboration Avoids Arizona Regulatory Issues
Cooperative Desalination Studies
Institutional Approaches Multi-State: YDP Pilot Run Ag Drainage Desalination Federal Participation CAP, MWD, SNWA Collaboration Avoids Arizona Regulatory Issues
Cienega de Santa Clara YDP
YDP Operations MODE (to Cienega) To Mexico MODE (from Wellton-Mohawk) Colorado River Morelos Dam
Institutional Approaches Regional: NW Providers Collaboration CAP Water Treatment CAP subcontractors Requires Concentrate Management West Valley Collaboration Brackish GW – Ag Drainage Requires Source Water Regulation Requires Concentrate Management
Institutional Approaches Local: Small Systems: Goodyear RO AZ Prisons RO
Progress Identification of Issues: Blue Ribbon Panel Water Development Commission Collaborations Eventual Regulatory Changes
Questions?