Desalination Documents
The links below provide access to our desalination-related publications.
Legislative Hearings
2022
House Natural Resources Committee
TWDB provided testimony at a hearing conducted by the committee to study the feasibility of desalination as a new and/or alternative water source for the state of Texas. The hearing was held in Austin on October 18, 2022, and focused on desalination.
- Presentation on Desalination in Texas, October 18, 2022
2016
House Natural Resources Committee
TWDB provided testimony at a hearing conducted by the committee to examine the progress of seawater desalination near the Texas coast and the viability of public-private partnerships to fund these type of projects (Interim Charge 4). The hearing was held in Brownsville on April 26, 2016, and focused on water quality (Interim Charge 9) and desalination ( Interim Charges 4 and 5).
- Briefing Notes on Desalination in Texas, April 26, 2016
2014
Joint Interim Committee to Study Desalination
TWDB provided testimony at the three hearings conducted by the committee to examine the status of desalination in Texas. The first hearing was held in Austin on June 16, 2014, and focused on general desalination. The second hearing was in Corpus Christi on June 23, 2014, and focused on ocean and saltwater desalination. The third hearing was in Wichita Falls on June 30, 2014, and focused on brackish groundwater desalination.
- Briefing Notes on Desalination in Texas, June 16, 2014
- Committee Testimony Follow Up, July 2, 2014
Legislative Reports
2022
The Future of Desalination in Texas: 2022 Biennial Report on Seawater and Groundwater Desalination
This is the tenth biennial progress report required by HB 1370 (2003) and HB 30 (2015) on the development of seawater and brackish groundwater desalination in Texas.
2020
The Future of Desalination in Texas: 2020 Biennial Report on Seawater and Groundwater Desalination
This is the ninth biennial progress report required by HB 1370 (2003) and HB 30 (2015) on the development of seawater and brackish groundwater desalination in Texas.
2018
The Future of Desalination in Texas: 2018 Biennial Report on Seawater and Groundwater Desalination
This is the eighth biennial progress report required by HB 1370 (2003) and HB 30 (2015) on the development of seawater and brackish groundwater desalination in Texas.
2016
The Future of Desalination in Texas: 2016 Biennial Report on Seawater and Groundwater Desalination
This is the seventh biennial progress report required by HB 1370 (2003) and HB 30 (2015) on the development of seawater and brackish groundwater desalination in Texas.
2014
The Future of Desalination in Texas: 2014 Biennial Report on Seawater Desalination
This is the sixth biennial progress report required by HB 1370 (2003) on the development of seawater desalination in Texas.
2012
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.
2010
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.
2008
The Future of Desalination in Texas: Biennial Report on Seawater Desalination
This is the third biennial progress report required by HB 1370 (2003) on the development of seawater desalination in Texas.
2006
The Future of Desalination in Texas: Biennial Report on Seawater Desalination
This is the second biennial progress report required by HB 1370 (2003) on the development of seawater desalination in Texas.
2004
The Future of Desalination in Texas:
- Volume I: Biennial Report on Seawater Desalination
- 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.
2002
Large-scale demonstration seawater desalination in Texas , Report to the Office of Governor Rick Perry.
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.
Project Reports
Brackish Desalination: Table showing completed desalination-related projects.
Seawater Desalination: Table showing completed desalination-related projects.
| Date Completed | Report Title | Contract No. | Contractor |
|---|---|---|---|
| 09/2011 | Texas Desal Project | 0904830972 | NRS Consulting Engineers, Inc. |
| 08/2010 | Feasibility and Pilot Study South Padre Island Seawater Desalination Project | 0604830628 | NRS Consulting Engineers, Inc. |
| 02/2009 | Lessons Learned from the Brownsville Seawater Pilot Study | 0648320566 | Reiss Engineering |
| 10/2008 | Texas Seawater Desalination Demonstration Project | 0604830619 | NRS Consulting Engineers, Inc. |
| 08/2006 | Desalination Brine Discharge Model |
2005-001-059 | University of Texas at Austin |
| 11/2004 | Large Scale Demonstration Desalination Feasibility Study - Corpus Christi, Texas |
2004-483-508 | City of Corpus Christi |
| 11/2004 | Lower Rio Grande Valley Brownsville Seawater Desalination Demonstration Project Feasibility Study |
2004-483-515 | City of Brownsville |
| 11/2004 | Freeport Desalination |
2004-483-514 | City of Freeport |
| 11/2004 | Guidance Manual for Permitting Requirements in Texas for Desalination Facilities |
2003-483-509 | R. W. Beck, Inc. |
| 09/2000 | Investigation of Joslin Steam Electric Station for Co-location of a Desalination Facility |
99-483-297 | Lavaca Regional Water Planning Group |
| 08/2000 |
|
2000-483-328 | Nueces River Authority |
| 12/1997 | Seawater Desalination Feasibility Study in the Laguna Madre Area |
97-483-202 | Laguna Madre Water District |
Published Papers
2008
Water Desalination in Texas. Arroyo and Kalaswad, U.S. Water News, in press.
The article summarizes desalination efforts in Texas and Governor Rick Perry's seawater desalination initiative.
2006
Please Pass the Salt: Using Oil Fields for the Disposal of Concentrate from Desalination Plants. Mace, Nicot, Chowdhury, Dutton, and Kalaswad.
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.
Status report on Brackish Groundwater and Desalination in the Gulf Coast Aquifer of Texas. Kalaswad and Arroyo, Gulf Coast Aquifer Conference, TWDB Report 365.
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.
2005
Water Desalination. Arroyo, Aquifers of the Edwards Plateau, TWDB Report 360.
The article discusses desalination as a water-supply option in Texas, the basics of water desalination technologies, and costs associated with developing desalination projects.
White Papers
2012
Cost of Brackish Groundwater Desalination in Texas Jorge Arroyo and Saqib Shirazi.
This analysis paper provides sample water production costs of brackish groundwater and seawater desalination in Texas.
2011
Desalination: Where do we go from here? Jorge Arroyo.
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.
The paper provides information on updates to the 2005 database of brackish water desalination plants in Texas.
Presentations (MS PowerPoint in PDF Format)
2023
Desalination Technology for Coastal Resilience – Perspectives from the Texas Coastal Bend Region for a Path Towards Implementation, January 2023. Erika Mancha
2021
Desalination in the 2022 State Water Plan, Texas Desal Association, Austin, TX, September 2021. Erika Mancha
Desalination in the 2022 State Water Plan, Project Texas Gulf Coast Showplace Concept Workshop, September 2021. Erika Mancha
Water Desalination in Texas, Western States Water Council Virtual Spring Meeting, March 2021. James Golab, Ph.D.
2020
Salinity in Texas,WestFAST Webinar, Austin, TX, December 2020. Erika Mancha
Desalination, Texas Tech University Webinar, October 9, 2020. Erika Mancha
2018
Desalination and Agricultural Conservation programs, Texas Cattle Feeders Association , Austin, TX, November 2018. Erika Mancha
Concentrate disposal methods in Texas, Texas Desal Conference, Austin, TX, September 13, 2018. Erika Mancha
2015
Seawater Desalination in Texas: Past, Present, and Future, IDA World Congress, San Diego, California, September 2015. Erika Mancha
2011
Innovative Water Technologies-Subsurface Impacts, Underground Injection Conference, Austin, TX, January 2011. Jorge A. Arroyo, P.E., 1.05 MB.
2010
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.
2007
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.
2005
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.
2004
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.