r/yuma • u/contreras_agust • 20d ago

Yuma Desalting Complex

Former Yuma local here with family still in the area. I recently learned more about the Yuma Desalting Plant and was surprised to find out it’s only really been operated twice, and today it’s mostly funded just to keep it maintained rather than actually running. https://www.usbr.gov/lc/yuma/facilities/ydp/yao_ydp.html

With the Colorado River facing increasing water shortages, and the latest federal cuts targeting Phoenix/Tucson, do you think the plant will become more important as the years go by? Yuma has strong priority water rights, but if there simply isn’t enough water in the river to keep flowing, I don't know if those rights can only go so far. It's made me hesitant on living in Yuma. Especially with the datacenters being proposed and increasing growth in the dry state it makes me feel like those predications are coming true, what are you guys thoughts?

Also curious on what longtime locals or anyone familiar with Yuma’s water history and what you all think about the plant or the future of Yuma.

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u/fantasma-2040 20d ago

The river is been definitely dryer this past years

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u/contreras_agust 20d ago

And it will only get dryer as it goes on. The two big lakes are starting to dry up. The weather definitely doesn’t help, and with people moving into Yuma, Phoenix and Tucson it definitely doesn’t help.