Yuma Desalting Plant Plant Demonstration Run – Successes and Challenges

NPR Boondoggle to Boom

Yuma Desalting Plant Largest Plant of its kind in the United States Constructed to desalt Wellton-Mohawk water <150ppm product water discharged to Colorado River For inclusion in water deliveries to Mexico Reduces releases from river system reservoirs

>200 Olympic size pools per day

Yuma Desalting Plant Largest Plant of its kind in the United States Constructed to desalt Wellton-Mohawk water <150ppm product water discharged to Colorado River For inclusion in water deliveries to Mexico Reduces releases from river system reservoirs

60 acre site of the YDP

Plant’s past and present Last operated in 1993 Stopped by flooding on the Gila River No need under abundant water conditions That’s changed; serious drought decade to date Plant is a potential tool to extend water supplies

Flooding on the Gila River

Plant’s past and present Last operated in 1993 Stopped by flooding on the Gila River No need under abundant water conditions That’s changed; serious drought decade to date Plant is a potential tool to extend water supplies

Low water at Lake Mead

Demonstration operation Reclamation committed to demonstrating operation of the plant in early Five objectives: Re-establish that the plant can run Clarify performance and cost estimates Demonstrate current technology Improve overall plant readiness Provide measurements of water quality impacts

Technological improvements

Demonstration operation Reclamation committed to demonstrating operation of the plant in early Five objectives: Re-establish that the plant can run Clarify performance and cost estimates Demonstrate current technology Improve overall plant readiness Provide measurements of water quality impacts

Demo run ceremony

Scope and scale of the demo 10% of full capacity operation 90 day duration Ensured a valid test at a reasonable cost Demonstration run began on March 1 All objectives have been met

Added success Government, water users and conservation interests can find common ground Heightened interest in potential alternative uses of the plant

Alternative uses of the plant Process a different feed water Produce potable water

The challenge Where does this plant fit into the water supply picture for the Lower Colorado River? How do we best use this asset?