Yuma Desalting Plant

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Yuma Desalting Plant Plant Demonstration Run
Successes and Challenges
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NPR

• Boondoggle to Boom

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• Yuma Desalting Plant
• Largest Plant of its kind in the United States
• Constructed to desalt Wellton-Mohawk water
• lt150ppm product water discharged to Colorado
  River
• For inclusion in water deliveries to Mexico
• Reduces releases from river system reservoirs

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gt200 Olympic size pools per day
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• Yuma Desalting Plant
• Largest Plant of its kind in the United States
• Constructed to desalt Wellton-Mohawk water
• lt150ppm product water discharged to Colorado
  River
• For inclusion in water deliveries to Mexico
• Reduces releases from river system reservoirs

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60 acre site of the YDP
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• Plants past and present
• Last operated in 1993
• Stopped by flooding on the Gila River
• No need under abundant water conditions
• Thats changed serious drought decade to date
• Plant is a potential tool to extend water
  supplies

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

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Low water at Lake Mead
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• Demonstration operation
• Reclamation committed to demonstrating operation
  of the plant in
• early 2006. 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

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Technological improvements
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• Demonstration operation
• Reclamation committed to demonstrating operation
  of
• the plant in early 2006. 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

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Demo run ceremony
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• 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

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

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

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