Arizona Water Resource Volume 11 Number 4

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and water resources for special attention stating, `The University of Arizona is #I nationally in hydrol- ogy; add to that distinction the four water centers, each dealing with a differentproblem area, and Ari .Zona State University's and Northern Arizona University's contributions, and Atkona has arguably the world's biggest and best water resource porfolio. " Arid /semi -arid lands ecology and urban ecology also were noted for their excellence. (See page S for news brief about anew AriZona State University program, "Consortium for the Study of Kapidly Urbani.ZingAreas.') Prepared for the Arizona Commerce and Economic Develop Commission and the Arizona Department of Commerce, the $186,000 study evaluated which university research areas could best support state efforts to build its economic future throughprivatemiublicpartnerships between industry, higher education andgovernment. (The photo shows UA students measuring stream flow on Sonoita Creek) C O N T E N T S Water Vapors ........................ 3 News Briefs .......................... 4 Guest View ........................... 6 Legislation and Law ............. 7 Publications .......................... 8 Special Projects .................... 9 Announcements .................10 Public Policy Review .........11 Photo: Dennis Scheall Desalination, an Emerging Water Resource Issue In coverage of the current water events of the day desalination has lately been gathering greater national attention. Recent newsworthy events include the construc- tion and operation of the Western Hemisphere's largest desalination plant in Tampa. Meanwhile California is experiencing a surge of interest in desalination, with plants proposed or planned at 13 sites along the coast. Nor is California limiting its desalination operations to coastal areas. The Calle- guas Municipal Water District plans to remove salt from groundwater under the Simi and Conejo valleys, with plants converting up to 30,000 acre -feet a year of brackish groundwater into potable supplies. From these and other developments from around the country it is obvious that desalination is shaping up to be an important 21" century water resource issue, with an expanding role in the perennial quest for additional water supplies. Although its water supply potential is getting most of the recent attention, desalination also can be used to improve water quality of current supplies. What significance does this emerging issue have for Arizona? What salinity is- sues confront the state? What commitments or activities demonstrate the state's concern about salinity? What resolution does the state seek to resolve its salinity problems? The situation in Arizona shows desalination to be a multifaceted issue, with more at stake than just reducing the cost of the treatment process to increase water sup- plies. Arizona confronts certain political and water quality and supply issues that en- sure some variations to the desalination issue as it plays out in other states. One of the more obvious differences, one shared by many other states, is that Continued on page 2 Water Resources Research Center College of Agriculture and Life Sciences The University of Arizona