July 1, 2008--CAP officials look for future Arizona water solutions (U.S. Water News)
The combined population of three of Arizona's most populous counties could double in 40 years and that has water experts dreaming up plans for the future. One scenario could have three desalination plants on line by 2048 to increase the supply of Central Arizona Project water flowing to Phoenix and Tucson. One plant could be removing salt from seawater along the Gulf of California in the Mexican state of Sonora — and its booty is shared by Arizona, California, Nevada and Mexico — and two other plants may be treating salt-laden groundwater in the areas of Buckeye and Gila Bend. Experts also hope a huge nuclear power plant may be in operation along the Gulf of California in Sonora, producing 600 megawatts of power to provide the juice for the adjoining seawater desalination plant. And by 2048, construction could be underway to expand the size of the concrete CAP canal running from the Colorado River to Tucson to deliver up to 2.2 million acre-feet of water a year. Currently, the aqueduct can deliver 1.8 million-acre feet.
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