What are the most common concentrate management methods being used by brackish desalination plants in Texas?
Based on information collected from 38 public drinking water facilities that desalinate brackish groundwater, about 37% of the plants discharge to a surface water body, 24% to a municipal sewer, 21% discharge to an evaporation pond, and about 13% utilize land application. About 5% remain unknown. More information on these disposal methods is available in our report A Desalination Database for Texas (Nicot and others, 2006; 1.29 MB). Additionally, we know of at least one facility (the 27.5 MGD El Paso-Fort Bliss inland desalination facility) that is using deep well injection (USEPA Class V injection well) to dispose off concentrates from desalination. It is the first such plant in Texas to use this disposal option. The plant came online on August 8, 2007.
