US Yuma Desalination Plant to Begin Trial Run

The US Bureau of Reclamation will start the Yuma Desalting Plant at a third of its capacity for a year-long pilot run to test the technology and gather data to see whether it will be cost-beneficial.

Arizona, where the plant is located, has been struggling to keep its Colorado river reservoirs full, the Bureau said.

The plant will treat water from the Wellton / Mohawk irrigation drainage system to deliver a specific amount of Colorado river water to Mexico as part of a US treaty with the neighbouring nation.

The year-long test run, costing $23m, will help western states add to their dwindling water supplies.

Funding worth $14m has been secured from three agencies while the rest has been provided by the Bureau, according to kyma.com.