Desalination Documents

The Future of Desalination in Texas: 2012 Biennial Report on Seawater Desalination

This is the fifth biennial progress report required by HB 1370 (2003) on the development of seawater desalination in Texas. The report discusses the results of TWDB's studies and activities related to seawater desalination during the preceding biennium; identification and evaluation of research, regulatory, technical, and financial impediments to the implementation of seawater desalination projects; evaluation of the role the State should play in furthering the development of large-scale seawater desalination projects in the state; and the anticipated appropriation from general revenues necessary to continue investigating water desalination activities in the state during the next biennium.

The Future of Desalination in Texas: 2010 Biennial Report on Seawater Desalination

This is the fourth biennial progress report required by HB 1370 (2003) on the development of seawater desalination in Texas. The report discusses the results of TWDB's studies and activities related to seawater desalination during the preceding biennium; the impediments to implementing seawater desalination projects; the role that the State should play in furthering the development of large-scale seawater desalination projects in the state; and the appropriation needed to continue investigating water desalination activities in the state during the next biennium.

The Future of Desalination in Texas: Biennial Report on Seawater Desalination 2.22 MB

This is the third biennial progress report required by HB 1370 (2003) on the development of seawater desalination in Texas. The report describes the actions, analyses, and findings of TWDB for developing large-scale demonstration seawater desalination projects in Texas. It examines the challenges to their implementation, the role of the state in overcoming those challenges, and identifies next steps including funding options.

The Future of Desalination in Texas: Biennial Report on Seawater Desalination 1.51 MB

This is the second biennial progress report required by HB 1370 (2003) on the development of seawater desalination in Texas. The report examines progress toward the goal of creating seawater desalination supplies in Texas and discusses the vital role the state must play to achieve this water supply breakthrough.

The Future of Desalination in Texas:

• Volume I: Biennial Report on Seawater Desalination 391 KB
• Volume II: Technical Papers, Case Studies and Desalination Technology Resources (links to page containing titles and links to individual papers)

Volume I is the first biennial progress report required by HB 1370 (2003) on the development of seawater desalination in Texas. Volume II is a collection of expert opinion, lessons learned, and resources available on seawater desalination.

Large-scale demonstration seawater desalination in Texas - Report of recommendations for the Office of Governor Rick Perry. 1.2 MB

The TWDB report presents the results of a process to identify and screen potential seawater desalination demonstration projects. It also contains financial and technical recommendations to help implement seawater desalination projects in Texas.

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Please Pass the Salt: Using Oil Fields for the Disposal of Concentrate from Desalination Plants. Mace, Nicot, Chowdhury, Dutton, and Kalaswad. 669 KB

The TWDB study conducted for the Bureau of Reclamation investigates the feasibility of disposing desalination concentrates through deep well injection into depleted oil and gas fields that are present in many areas of Texas. The study concludes that deep well injection is technically feasible, but will require regulatory changes.

A desalination database for Texas. Bureau of Economic Geology, University of Texas at Austin. 1.29 MB

The report prepared by the Bureau of Economic Geology for the TWDB presents detailed information on 38 public water systems in Texas that are currently engaged in desalination. Includes a Web-based database application of the 38 listed plants plus additional plants that have since become operational.

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Water Desalination in Texas. Arroyo and Kalaswad, U.S. Water News, in press. 81 KB

The article summarizes desalination efforts in Texas and Governor Rick Perry's seawater desalination initiative.

Status report on Brackish Groundwater and Desalination in the Gulf Coast Aquifer of Texas. Kalaswad and Arroyo, Gulf Coast Aquifer Conference, TWDB Report 365, 438 KB

The paper provides a status report on the characteristics of brackish groundwater in the Gulf Coast aquifer of Texas and the desalination facilities (existing and planned) that use, or plan to use, this source.

Water Desalination. Arroyo, Aquifers of the Edwards Plateau, TWDB Report 360. 1.83 MB

The article discusses desalination as a water-supply option in Texas, the basics of water desalination technologies, and costs associated with developing desalination projects.

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Cost of Brackish Groundwater Desalination in Texas Jorge Arroyo and Saqib Shirazi, 276 KB

This analysis paper provides sample water production costs of brackish groundwater and seawater desalination in Texas.

Desalination: Where do we go from here? Jorge Arroyo, 135 KB

The paper examine the current state of water desalination in Texas, provides a brief assessment of the needs and opportunities for desalination, and discusses practical approaches to continuing advancing desalination in Texas.

Desalination Database Updates for Texas. Saqib Shirazi and Jorge Arroyo, 613 KB

The paper provides information on updates to the 2005 database of brackish water desalination plants in Texas.

Innovative Water Technologies-Subsurface Impacts, Underground Injection Conference, Austin, TX, January 2011. Jorge A. Arroyo, P.E., 1.05 MB

Updates on the desalination database for Texas, South Central Membrane Association Annual Meeting, South Padre Island, Texas, September 2010. Dr. Saqib Shirazi, P.E. 774 KB

A status update on the database of brackish water desalination plants in Texas.

Texas water desalination initiatives, Coastal Plains Groundwater Conservation District, December 2007. Jorge Arroyo, P.E. 1.69 MB

An overview of and status update on desalination studies being undertaken by the TWDB.

Briefing on TWDB desalination activities, South Central Desalting Association, July 2005. Jorge Arroyo, P.E. 1.25 MB

An overview of the basics of desalination, TWDB's role in desalination for the State, and a status report on desalination studies being undertaken by the TWDB.

TWDB desalination workplan FY 2006-2007 Biennium, Texas Water Development Board Work Session, July 18, 2005. Jorge Arroyo, P.E. 256 KB

Work plan presented to the TWDB Board members outlining the activities planned for fiscal years 2006 and 2007. Includes some background information on brackish and seawater desalination technology.

Creating new water: Exploring the options. E.G. Rod Pittman, Chairman, Texas Water Development Board. 1 MB

A presentation by TWDB Chairman, Rod Pittman, on the importance of and need for desalination in Texas.

Valley water summit: public/private partnerships for financing water supply projects, February 2005. Jorge Arroyo, P.E. 107 KB

Presentation by TWDB staff on the opportunities for and challenges with Public/Private Partnerships in water and wastewater infrastructure development. Presentation is not specifically geared toward desalination projects.

Desalination in Texas, 2004. Jorge Arroyo, P.E. 2.88 MB

General overview of desalination technology and TWDB's efforts in desalination in Texas. Includes an example of the Southmost Regional Water Authority's brackish desalination plant in Cameron County.

Desalination briefing, October 2004. Jorge Arroyo, P.E. 118 KB

Briefs of staff presentation to the TWDB Board members on the agency's desalination activities. Includes a timeline for the three seawater desalination feasibility studies, funding requests to the Legislature, and completion of the biennial legislative report.

Water supply seminar, February 2004. E.G. Rod Pittman, Chairman, Texas Water Development Board. 804 KB

A presentation by TWDB Chairman, Rod Pittman, at the Shell Center for Sustainability, Rice University, on TWDB's responsibilities for and role in developing additional sources of water using desalination technology.

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