What are the data gaps for developing brackish groundwater desalination resources in Texas? Bill Hutchison, Ph.D., P.E., P.G. Director, Groundwater Resources Texas Water Development Board Texas Innovative Water 2010 October 11, 2010

What are the data gaps for developing brackish groundwater desalination resources in Texas? Aquifer characterization Integration of brackish groundwater and fresh groundwater management Data interpretation and integration (variety of “non-traditional” sources)

Topics Brackish groundwater occurrence Texas Current and projected use of brackish groundwater in Texas TWDB role in brackish groundwater development

~ 2.7 billion acre-feet of brackish groundwater

Current and Future Use of Brackish Water in Texas Groundwater –32 Facilities –66 million gallons per day capacity Surface Water –12 facilities –50 million gallons per day capacity

Future Use of Brackish Groundwater 2007 State Water Plan projections –6 Regions –175,000 AF/yr by 2060 Brackish groundwater use in 2060 represents about 3% (volume) of 2060 “strategies”

TWDB and Brackish Groundwater Texas Legislature appropriated $20,000 to study scaling problems in desalination TWDB Report 157, A survey of the subsurface saline waters of Texas H. P. Burleigh, TWDB Executive Director, Testimony before Congress “Continued Federal Support of Desalination Research and Development”

TWDB and Brackish Groundwater , 2007, 2009 Brackish Groundwater Manual for Regional Water Planning Groups Texas Legislature appropriates funds for brackish groundwater desalination demonstration projects

Summary of Demonstration Projects 12 projects –3 completed Project cost total = $14 million TWDB participation = $2.5 million

BRACS (2009) TWDB requested and received funding to implement a Brackish Resources Aquifer Characterization System (BRACS) program

BRACS Goals and Objectives Assist regional water planning groups Extend the 2003 TWDB study: Map aquifers to 10,000 mg/L TDS Characterize aquifers Build replicable numerical groundwater flow models

BRACS Business Plan Pilot Project (18 months) Develop a replicable protocol Develop and execute a procurement strategy for aquifer analysis

BRACS Pilot Project Test methods and procedures Identify deficiencies in data Provide estimate of time and resources to complete evaluation Demonstrate feasibility of BRACS

Pilot Area Selection Criteria Brackish groundwater desalination water management strategies in the regional water plans (2006 and 2011) Previous and ongoing aquifer studies Brackish groundwater desalination projects Geologic framework of aquifer Data availability

Pilot Study Area Selection 15 Sites considered (10 regions) One “primary” selected –Pecos Valley Aquifer Two “alternatives” –Edwards-Trinity (High Plains) –Trinity/Woodbine Aquifers (Johnson County)

BRACS Data Types Drilling Records Geological and Hydrogeological Data Geophysical Well Logs GIS Shape Files Groundwater Models Groundwater Quality Data

Monument Draw Trough

Hueco Bolson ~ 1.6 million acres ~ 2,500 sq. mi.

B F Airport Area

3-D Groundwater Quality Assessment (2002 & 2003) New data to characterize groundwater quality in Hueco Bolson Test drilling (EPWU) Shallow drilling (EPCWID) Downhole profiles (JMAS)

EPWU Test Drilling EPCWID Shallow Wells JMAS Downhole Profiles

Estimated Volume of Groundwater El Paso and Juarez Area (2002) (Million AF) Chloride (mg/l) Groundwater Storage in the El Paso Area (million AF) Groundwater Storage in the Juarez Area (million AF) < > Total

JDF Monitoring Wells

Implications of Investigation Brackish groundwater is not a “new” source of water Need to integrate management of brackish and fresh groundwater

B F Airport Area

Kay Bailey Hutchison Desalination Plant

Existing EPWU Wells

Rehabilitated Wells (3)

Redrilled Wells (13)

Connected to Collector Line (4)

New Wells on Loop 375 (16)

Project Wells (36) Plant

Groundwater Flow – w/o KBH

Groundwater Flow – w/ KBH

New BRACS Research Assessment of Groundwater Modeling Approaches to Brackish Aquifers Develop a bibliography of existing literature relevant to the Brackish Resources Aquifer Characterization System (BRACS) program Locate and Acquire Digital Geophysical Well Logs and Conduct Data Entry of Attributes

Summary Brackish groundwater use in Texas will increase in coming decades One major metropolitan area has integrated brackish groundwater into its supply portfolio (another area will implement it soon) TWDB is well positioned to provide technical support to current and future efforts

Questions? Bill Hutchison