Brownsville Large-Scale Seawater Desalination Pilot Plant Study
Project Summary
As part of the state's Seawater Desalination Initiative, the Brownsville Public Utilities Board is seeking to develop the state's first large-scale seawater desalination plant (View Schematics). A 2004 Seawater Desalination Feasibility study provided recommendation for developing such a facility at the Brownsville Ship Channel. The goal of the current 12-month pilot plant study is to collect source water quality data, and assess and optimize the desalination processes recommended in the feasibility study.
- TWDB Contract Manager:
- Jorge Arroyo
- Funding Recipient:
- Brownsville Public Utilities Board
- Project Administrator:
- Brownsville Public Utilities Board
- Contractors:
- NRS Consulting Engineers
- Project Start Date:
- July 18, 2006
- Project Completion Date:
- December 2008
- Total Project Cost:
- $2,225,056.83
- TWDB Share of Project Cost:
- $1,340,000
- Benefits:
- The pilot plant study will provide reliable, site-specific source data to support the design, funding and construction of a large-scale seawater desalination plant.
Project Details
Participants
Project Sponsor:
Texas Water Development Board
Jorge Arroyo, P.E. - Contract Manager
1700 N. Congress Avenue
Austin, TX 78711
512-475-3003
Funding Recipient:
Brownsville Public Utilities Board
Mr. John S. Bruciak - CEO and General Manager
1425 Robinhood Drive
P.O. Box 3270
Brownsville, TX 78523-3270
800-869-2922
Project Manager:
NRS Consulting Engineers
Mr. Bill Norris - Principal
1222 E. Tyler, Suite C
P.O. Box 2544
Harlingen, TX 78551
956-423-7409
Project Engineer:
NRS Consulting Engineers
Mr. Bill Norris - Principal
1222 E. Tyler, Suite C
P.O. Box 2544
Harlingen, TX 78551
956-423-7409
Final Report
Final Pilot Study Report: Texas Seawater Desalination Demonstration Project (10.78 MB)
Project Milestones
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Statement of Interest received by TWDB | March 9, 2006 |
| TWDB Board authorizes contract negotiations | April 17, 2006 |
| Contract executed (official start of project) | July 18, 2006 |
| Project engineer selected by Brownsville PUB | February 13, 2006 |
| Pilot plant start-up date | February 27, 2007 |
Photographs
Courtesy of Brownsville Public Utilities Board/NRS Engineers - November/December 2006
