With the launch of the Long-Term Water Supply Enhancement Fund (LTWAF), the Arizona government has taken a significant step toward ensuring long-term water availability for its communities with four proposed projects.
This program, which includes the construction of a desalination plant in Sonora (for which costs and operational feasibility have not yet been determined), is key to guaranteeing the state’s water supply and providing innovative solutions that will benefit not only Arizona but also other sectors involved.
The fund, administered by the Arizona Water Infrastructure Financing Authority (WIFA), aims to supplement the region’s water supply through investments in projects that increase its availability, according to state officials.
The proposed desalination plant could supply up to 150,000 acre-feet of water per year for Arizona. / Photo: Courtesy | IDE TECH
Although no further details about the project, nor its precise location, have been revealed, it is estimated to be on the border between Sonora and Baja California, according to official sources. This is because it will be essential for bringing seawater from the ocean and converting it into potable water, which will then be transported to Arizona via an aqueduct, thus ensuring a constant supply for the state’s communities.
If the project is completed, the water extracted from the sea and treated will be exchanged for a portion of Mexico’s current Colorado River water allocation, allowing for a beneficial resource exchange for both nations, as explained in the document published on the WIFA website.
It is also estimated that this project under development will increase Arizona’s water supply by 150,000 acre-feet per year by 2034, thereby meeting the state’s water demand.
Its proponents emphasize that the implementation of this project represents a visionary investment that will not only benefit Arizona but will also provide a sustainable solution to water challenges in the southwestern United States.
In addition to the desalination plant, other solutions are being evaluated that could complement the overall effort to ensure the state has sufficient water for decades to come.
Source: oem
