The United States Bureau of Reclamation has joined forces with major water agencies across California, Nevada and Arizona to jointly explore how desalination and advanced water purification could strengthen long-term water reliability across the Colorado River Basin.
The agreement, formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding signed on 3 June at the Carlsbad Desalination Plant in California, brings together seven organisations: the Bureau of Reclamation, San Diego County Water Authority, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, Southern Nevada Water Authority, Arizona Department of Water Resources, Central Arizona Water Conservation District and Salt River Project Agricultural Improvement and Power District.
If the MOU moves forward, it would mark the first mechanism enabling the interstate movement of desalinated or purified water
At the core of the initiative is the idea that agencies could "move" water on paper using existing infrastructure, enabling transfers or exchanges without the need to build new pipelines or conveyance systems.
The Colorado River is under severe strain. Reservoir storage across the system currently sits at around 36% of total capacity, compounded by below-average snowpack and unusually high spring temperatures this year.
The MOU does not alter existing water rights or commit any signatory to a specific project. Rather, it establishes a shared framework for evaluation, with four main areas of focus:
- Strengthening cross-state cooperation. Major water providers in California, Nevada and Arizona will jointly assess new supply options and management tools.
- Advancing water recycling and purification. Many Basin communities are already investing in large-scale recycling schemes; the agreement supports efforts to incorporate these into broader Basin management strategies.
- Assessing the role of desalination. The MOU opens a pathway to evaluate how desalinated water could contribute to regional supply reliability.
- Laying the groundwork for interstate exchanges. The agreement sets out a high-level structure for potential future transfers of desalinated or purified water across state lines, using existing infrastructure rather than new construction.
If the concept moves forward, it would mark the first mechanism enabling the interstate movement of desalinated or purified water within the seven-state Colorado River Basin.
