Assigned to NREW FOR
COMMITTEE
Assigned to NREW FOR
COMMITTEE
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Third Legislature, Second Regular Session
water; desalination action plan
Purpose
Requires the Department of Water Resources (DWR) to prepare a desalination action plan to review the feasibility of treating brackish groundwater or sea water.
Background
Desalination refers to the process of removing dissolved salts and minerals from water in order to make the water suitable for consumption or irrigation.
The Governor's Water Augmentation Council (GWAC) Desalination Committee was established in 2016 to explore opportunities for desalination in Arizona with a focus on brackish groundwater and effluent supplies. The GWAC Desalination Committee recommended to continue to evaluate areas for feasibility and funding options for a desalination project and to secure land and water contracts (Arizona Department of Water Resources).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation
Provisions
1. Requires the Director of DWR to prepare a desalination action plan that includes:
a) the location of significant amounts of brackish groundwater and potential uses of the treated water;
b) a cost benefit analysis for treatment and delivery of the water;
c) potential funding sources;
d) an evaluation of the feasibility and costs to dispose of the brine product that results from treating brackish groundwater; and
e) potential binational agreements or projects to treat brackish groundwater or sea water.
2. Establishes a due date for the initial plan of September 30, 2019, and requires an update on the plan and its results every two years.
3. Defines brackish groundwater.
4. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
February 8, 2018
KK/IC/lat