Reclamation: Desalting plant trial running smoothly

Everyone likes to hear the words “ahead of schedule and under budget” — and that's just what's happening at the largest desalting plant in the nation, located in Yuma, Ariz.

The plant is on a one-year trial run that began May 3, and so far things are running smoothly said Jennifer McCloskey, Yuma Area Office, Area Manager with the plant.

McCloskey gave an update on the plant at a public meeting Wednesday.

The purpose of the plant is to extract water from a bypass canal that runs to Wellton and put back water into the Colorado River.

Three partnerships, from southern California, Nevada, and Central Phoenix, fund $12.8 million of the $16.6 million project. The Bureau of Reclamation, a federal agency, funds the remaining portion that pays for the support staff.

In addition to providing several western states with water, the Colorado flows south into Mexico. The U.S. has an agreement with the Mexican government from a 1944 water treaty to share the water and maintain a certain water quality.

The facility in Yuma can churn out 72 million gallons per day.

In addition to being “ahead of schedule and under budget,” McCloskey said the “plant is performing better than design specifications.”

That means operators are exceeding their original goal of producing 70 percent reusable water and 30 percent calcium carbonate by-product.

If there is one challenge the operators face, she said, and that's transporting that by-product.

The calcium carbonate is transferred through a 22-mile long pipeline that stretches from Yuma to Somerton, McCloskey said.

And since the trial run began, she said they've experienced about three or four breaks in the line — and each one takes about two days to repair.

While they have adequate storage for when it's not moving she said, the by-product is meant to end up in dry bed “pools.”

There, the plant maintains requirements set by and has permits issued from the Arizona Department of Environmental Equality (ADEQ).

McCloskey said the 7.2 magnitude Easter Day earthquake could be to blame, but they're not sure.

Though the plant may sound new to some, construction ended on the it around 1992.

In the past, increased water levels made it unnecessary — there was plenty of water to go around.

But in recent years, the water hasn't exactly been flowing.

“It's tough times on the Colorado River,” McCloskey said.

An 11-year drought is the reason the plant is on a trial run now, she said.

At the meeting, McCloskey was asked if the facility will stay open for the planned 365 days, or if it will stop operating once the goals have been met.

At the moment, they're not quite sure, she said.

One thing is for certain: McCloskey said the partnership with Mexico is working well.

“It's a real example in terms of how people are coming together to make this work.”

Stephanie A. Wilken can be reached at swilken@yumasun.com or 539-6857.