El Paso Public Service Board: Pilot Study to Demonstrate Volume Reduction of Reverse Osmosis Concentrate
Project Summary
Research completed by the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) Civil Engineering Department is encouraging for concentrate recovery. At the new desalination plant, El Paso Water Utilities (EPWU) will commence large-scale testing to evaluate the silica reduction in reverse osmosis concentrate, using lime addition and vibratory shear enhanced processing (VSEP) technology.
- TWDB Contract Manager:
- Jorge Arroyo, P.E.
- Funding Recipients:
- El Paso Water Utilities - Public Service Board
- Project Administrator:
- John Balliew, P.E.
- Consultant:
- Dr. Anthony J. Tarquin, University of Texas at El Paso
- Project Start Date:
- October 2007
- Project Completion Date:
- May 2011
- Total Project Cost:
- $505,982
- TWDB Share of Project Cost:
- $228,557
- Benefits:
- The pilot study will demonstrate increased recovery of water from RO concentrate, which will result in greater water production in brackish groundwater desalination, and would reduce the quantity of concentrate for disposal to injection wells.
Project Details
Participants
Project Sponsor:
Texas Water Development Board
Jorge Arroyo - Contract Manager
1700 N. Congress Avenue
Austin, TX 78711
512-475-3003
Funding Recipient:
El Paso Public Service Board
Ed Archuleta
President and CEO
1154 Hawkins Blvd.
P.O. Box 511
El Paso, TX 79961-0001
915-594-5500
Project Manager:
El Paso Public Service Board
John Balliew
1154 Hawkins Blvd.
P.O. Box 511
El Paso, TX 79961-0001
915-594-5500
Project Milestones
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Announcement of Request for Statement of Interest in Texas Register | September 29, 2006 |
| Statement of Interest received by TWDB | January 25, 2007 |
| Study approved by TWDB Board | February 27, 2007 |
| Contract executed | October 15, 2007 |
Progress Reports
- July-September 2010 (28 KB)
- April-June 2010 (584 KB)
- January-March 2010 (584 KB)
- October-December 2009 (12.9 KB)
Final Reports
- Phase I: High Tech Methods to Reduce Concentrate Volume Prior to Disposal, March 2010 (6.85 MB)
- Phase II: Continuous Flow Seawater RO System for Recovery of Silica-Saturated RO Concentrate,
July 2011 (1.53 MB)
Photographs
Courtesy of Dr. Hari J. Krishna, TWDB
