City of Seminole: An Integrated Wind-Water Desalination Demonstration Project for an Inland Municipality

Project Summary:

The City of Seminole proposes to desalinate brackish water from the Dockum Aquifer in Gaines County using wind-powered energy. The treated water will be integrated with the city's existing water treatment and distribution system for municipal use.

TWDB Contract Manager:: Sanjeev Kalaswad
Funding Recipient:: City of Seminole
Project Administrator:: Dr. Ken Rainwater, Texas Tech University
Participants:: Texas Department of Rural Affairs; now the Texas Department of Agriculture (Austin, TX), Texas Tech University (Lubbock, Texas), Entegrity Wind Systems, Inc. (Boulder, Colorado), Parkhill, Smith & Cooper, Inc. (Lubbock, Texas), A & J Howco Services, Inc (Lubbock, Texas)
Project Start Date:: April 29, 2008
Project Completion Date:: August 31, 2014
Total Project Cost:: $1,625,000
TWDB Share of Project Cost:: $300,000
Benefits:: The Dockum Aquifer covers a large area of the Texas Panhandle and if it proves to be a reliable source of brackish water that can be desalinated economically, other entities in the area can begin to explore it for their own use. This will reduce stress on the overlying Ogallala Aquifer where water levels are declining, and concern is growing about the longevity of the aquifer.

Participants

Project Sponsors:

Texas Water Development Board
Dr. Sanjeev Kalaswad - Contract Manager
1700 N. Congress Avenue
Austin, TX 78701
512-936-0838

Texas Department of Agriculture
Mr. Travis Brown - Renewable Energy Program Manager
1700 N. Congress Avenue
Austin, TX 78701
512-968-5103

Funding Recipient:

City of Seminole
Mr. Tommy Phillips - City Administrator
302 South Main
Seminole, Texas 79360
432-758-3676

Project Manager:

Texas Tech University
Dr. Ken Rainwater
Director, Water Resources Center
P.O. Box 41023
Lubbock, TX 79409-1023
806-742-3490

Project Contributor:

Entegrity Wind Systems, Inc.
4855 Riverbend Rd. Suite 100
Boulder, CO 80301
303-440-8799

Project Consultants:

Parkhill, Smith & Cooper, Inc.
John Kelley
4222 85th Street
Lubbock, TX 79423
806-473-2200

A & J Howco Services, Inc.
Ms. Kay Howard
5714 - 40th Street
P.O. Box 64780
Lubbock, TX 79464-4780
806/797-4299

Project Milestones

Event	Date
Announcement of Request for Proposals in Texas Register	October 23, 2007
Initial Statement of Interest received by TWDB	February 29, 2008
Study approved by TWDB Board	April 29, 2007
Contract executed	March 3, 2009