The desalting plant is operated under partnership with the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD), Central Arizona Water Conservation District (CAWCD), and South Nevada Water Authority (SNWA). Between them, they are funding nearly $14 million of the pilot run's estimated $23.2 million cost. In return, each agency will receive credit in Lake Mead through a water conservation mechanism known as ‘Intentionally Created Surplus’ (ICS). The amount of storage credits each agency receives will be proportionate to its funding contribution.
 

In total, about 21,700 acre-feet of desalted water will be produced during the pilot run. This water will be combined with 7,300 acre-feet of untreated irrigation drainage water and the total amount, 29,000 acre-feet, will be discharged into the Colorado River and included in Treaty deliveries to Mexico. The pilot run will allow retention of about 30,000 acre-feet of water in Lake Mead that otherwise would have been released as part of required deliveries to Mexico.
 

Angel Santiago, a vice chairman of board of directors of the MWD, said: “As the Colorado River Basin drought continues, these projects will be critical in conserving supplies for future use, while helping urban Southern California effectively manage its Colorado River deliveries. The partnership that has developed among SNWA, CAWCD, and MWD, along with support from Reclamation to fund projects like these, will also be key in meeting the region's long-term water needs.”