The Implementation of Desalination Projects in Arizona: Policies, Institutions & Regulations Multi-State Salinity Coalition February 17, 2011 Chuck Cullom.

The Implementation of The Implementation of Desalination Projects in Desalination Projects in

Arizona:Arizona:Policies, Institutions & Policies, Institutions &

RegulationsRegulations

Multi-State Salinity CoalitionFebruary 17, 2011

Chuck CullomCAP Senior Policy Analyst

OverviewOverview

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 Potential Desalination SourcesSources

Brackish Groundwater Poor-quality Aquifers Impaired-quality Aquifers

Ag Drainage Gulf of California/Pacific Ocean

Water Stressed Area(2030)

Arizona’s Early Arizona’s Early LeadershipLeadership

1966 – Town of Goodyear Brackish Groundwater (ED)

1992 – Yuma Desalting Plant Ag Drainage (RO)

Quantity And Quality Quantity And Quality NOT Integrated in NOT Integrated in

ArizonaArizona 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 Assured Water Supply RequirementsRequirements

Groundwater Management Act (1980) Active Management Areas “Safe-yield” Goal Most Groundwater Pumping is “Mined” No Relief For Poor-qualify Aquifers

GW Management AreasGW 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 declinesINA – Irrigation

Non-expansion Areas

Goals

Aquifer Protection Aquifer Protection ProgramProgram

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 ApproachesInstitutional Approaches

International: Ocean Desalination US-Mexico Discussions Multi-State Collaboration Avoids Arizona Regulatory Issues

Cooperative Desalination Cooperative Desalination StudiesStudies

Institutional ApproachesInstitutional 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

YDP OperationsYDP Operations

MO

DE

(to

Cie

nega)

ToMexico

MODE(from Wellton-Mohawk)

Colorado River

Morelos Dam

Institutional ApproachesInstitutional 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 ApproachesInstitutional Approaches

Local: Small Systems:

Goodyear RO AZ Prisons RO

ProgressProgress

Identification of Issues: Blue Ribbon Panel Water Development Commission

Collaborations Eventual Regulatory Changes

Questions?Questions?