Could Desalination Be the Key to Arizona’s Water Crisis?

Arizona faces a critical water challenge due to its growing population and long-standing droughts. One proposed solution is desalination, which could help secure water for the state.

ARIZONA, USA — Jeremy Crutchfield stands next to a complicated network of tanks, pipes, and heavy machinery. He twists a silver tap, pours water into a cup, and takes a sip.

“Pacific on tap,” he declares.

This fresh water, once part of the ocean an hour ago, exemplifies what desalination can achieve. Crutchfield is positioned by the largest reservoir in the world—the Pacific Ocean itself.

The Carlsbad Desalination Plant, located next to this vast body of water, treats billions of gallons of seawater, transforming it into drinkable water. So far, it has successfully produced over 120 billion gallons of high-quality water.

San Diego County, historically a desert with minimal rainfall, heavily relies on this plant. The region has faced severe droughts and mandatory water use restrictions, thus necessitating new water sources.

Built over a decade ago, the Carlsbad Desalination Plant operates on the site of an old power plant, utilizing a lagoon connected to the ocean. It filters seawater through several stages, removing everything from marine life to salt, producing freshwater at the cost of $3,400 per acre-foot. This is more expensive than Colorado River water, which costs around $4,500 per acre-foot.

Arizona is considering something similar, with the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority (WIFA) contemplating a $5.5 billion desalination plant in Rocky Mount, Mexico. The proposals include either running a pipeline across the desert to Arizona or trading desalinated water for Colorado River water currently allocated to Mexico.

The main challenges are cost and environmental impacts. Building and operating such a facility is expensive, and the by-product, brine, can harm marine habitats.

Sarah Porter from ASU’s Kyl Center for Water Policy cautions against hasty decisions. She argues that Arizona is not in immediate danger of running out of water and suggests exploring alternative water conservation methods first.

Arizona has its own history with desalination. The Yuma Desalting Plant, constructed by the U.S. Reclamation Department, has seldom been used due to changing circumstances and the creation of a protected wetland habitat in Mexico from Yuma’s farmland runoff.

WIFA has recently put the desalination project on hold, particularly after lawmakers stripped $333 million from its budget. The future of large-scale desalination in Arizona remains uncertain.