SAWS Expects $118 Million Phase I of Brackish Groundwater Desalination Plant to start Delivering Clean Drinking Water by October

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--San Antonio Water System (San Antonio, Texas), or SAWS for short, expects Phase I of its new brackish groundwater desalination plant, which is situated in the middle of a cow pasture located 20 miles South of San Antonio in Elmendorf, Texas, to be producing fresh drinking water by October.

The plant sits atop a down dip of the Wilcox Aquifer and source water is located 1,200 to 1,800 feet below the surface. Twelve production wells were drilled as part of the first phase of the project. The raw water only contains about 10% brine salinity.

The brackish water goes through a seven unit, hi-pressure membrane filtration system that results in 90% finished water suitable for consumption. The remaining brine water is injected back into the ground via a 4,200-foot-deep disposal well.

The plant will have a capacity to produce 12 million gallons of drinkable water daily, which is enough to support 40,000 households.

The plant was built through a joint venture partnership of Black & Veatch Holding Company (Overland Park, Kansas), which provided pre-design, design, construction and commissioning, and Zachry Parsons Water Resources (San Antonio), which provided construction management and was awarded a six-month operations and maintenance contract.

When all three phases of the $411 million project are complete, with Phase II expected in 2021 and Phase III expected during 2026, the plant will have the capacity to provide 30 million gallons of fresh drinking water daily.

The plant is also public friendly, with a visitor's center, public tours and training and education facilities that utilize high-end audio visual technology.

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