Challenges in Brackish
Groundwater Desalination
Project Development
February 17, 2011
MSSC 2011 Annual Salinity Summit
Charles Ahrens
Vice President / Water Resources and Conservation
Presentation Outline
• Why Brackish Desalination?
• Project Location
• Project Components
• Project Challenges
• Next Steps
• Lessons Learned
• Summary
February 17, 2011
Challenges in Brackish Groundwater Desalination Project
Development
Page 2
Why Brackish Desalination?
• Governor’s 2002
Desalination Initiative
• Resource close to
San Antonio
• Un-utilized resource
• Diversification
SAWS Brackish Test Site 1
February 17, 2011
Challenges in Brackish Groundwater Desalination Project
Development
Page 3
Project Location
• Located on Aquifer Storage
& Recovery property
• 11,800 acre-feet (Phase 1)
• Potential to expand to
25,000 acre-feet
• 45-mile Integration Pipeline
will deliver water to south
and west, may be built in
phases
February 17, 2011
Challenges in Brackish Groundwater Desalination Project
Development
Page 4
Project Components
• Production / Monitor
Wells
• Reverse Osmosis
Treatment Plant
• Pipeline System
• Brine Injection Wells
• Electrical System
February 17, 2011
Challenges in Brackish Groundwater Desalination Project
Development
Page 5
Page 6
Project Challenges
• Groundwater District
Regulation
• State Water Management
• Concentrate Disposal
• Real Estate
• Public Perception
• Funding
SAWS Membrane Pilot Test Unit
February 17, 2011
Challenges in Brackish Groundwater Desalination Project
Development
Project Challenges
• Groundwater District
Regulation
• State Water Management
• Region L Plan
• Groundwater Management
Areas
February 17, 2011
Challenges in Brackish Groundwater Desalination Project
Development
Page 7
Project Challenges
• Concentrate Disposal
• SAWS Disposal Options
– Surface Water
– Deep Well Injection
• Permitting
– General Permit
February 17, 2011
Challenges in Brackish Groundwater Desalination Project
Development
Page 8
Project Challenges
•
•
•
•
Public Perception
Citizen’s Advisory Panel
Project Opposition
Response to Opposition
– Science Committee
– Project starts in Bexar
County
– Construct Monitor Wells
– Continued information to
political leadership in
Bexar
County
and
surrounding Counties
February 17, 2011
Challenges in Brackish Groundwater Desalination Project
Development
Page 9
Page 10
Project Challenges
Funding – Water Resources CIP Budget
$160,000,000
$143.7M
$140,000,000
$120,000,000
$117.6M
$115.1M
$98.5M
$100,000,000
$93.4M
$91.1M
$77.9M
$80,000,000
$60,000,000
$56.5M $56.5M
$51M
$45.8M $45.8M
$40,000,000
$20,000,000
$0
2012
2013
Original CIP
2014
2015
2016
2017
Revised CIP w/ Revised Costs & Schedule
February 17, 2011
Challenges in Brackish Groundwater Desalination Project
Development
Project Challenges
• Other Funding Sources
• TWDB Water Infrastructure Funds
– $35 Million – low interest deferred loans for
Planning and Design
– $24 Million – low interest loans for Construction
• Federal Funds – Bureau of Reclamation
February 17, 2011
Challenges in Brackish Groundwater Desalination Project
Development
Page 11
Next Steps
Page 12
• Additional Pilot Testing (2011)
• Drill Test Injection Well (2011)
• Engage Program Manager (early 2012)
• Engage Construction Manager at Risk (late 2012)
February 17, 2011
Challenges in Brackish Groundwater Desalination Project
Development
Lessons Learned
Page 13
• Inform political leadership early (preferably before
feasibility work)
• Never underestimate project opposition
• Start land acquisition early
• Determine water quality early
• Pilot membranes early
• Refine concentrate disposal options early
February 17, 2011
Challenges in Brackish Groundwater Desalination Project
Development
Page 14
Summary
• Project Benefits
– Diversification - project
relieves pressure on the
Edwards Aquifer
– Additional use of
previously
279,000purchased
AF
System property
– “State-of-the-Art”
Treatment
– Phase 1 supplies
approximately 5% of
SAWS water needs
2020 – Worst Year of DOR
Edwards
Regional Carrizo
Local Carrizo
Western Canyon
Brackish Desalination ASR
22%
5%
7%
4%
222,000 AF
253,000 AF
60%
2%
151,000 AF Edwards
102,000 AF Non-Edwards
Note: Excludes Recycle Water
February 17, 2011
Challenges in Brackish Groundwater Desalination Project
Development
Challenges in Brackish
Groundwater Desalination
Project Development
February 17, 2011
MSSC 2011 Annual Salinity Summit
Charles Ahrens
Vice President / Water Resources and Conservation