UTEP was just awarded $500K from the US Bureau of Reclamation for the first of three years of research. The first year will accomplish design studies to evaluate incorporation of nanofiltration membranes and the design and procurement of a purpose-built demonstration system for use in years 2-3. The demonstration will be located at Reclamation’s Brackish Groundwater National Desalination Research Facility (BGNDRF) in Alamogordo, NM.

The Zero Discharge Desalination (ZDD) process offers potential to maximize the volume of product water from a brackish source while minimizing impacts to the environment caused by waste disposal. This work will build on several years of pilot demonstrations at the BGNDRF and other locations. This effort will be a partnership between The University of Texas at El Paso, Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies, and the City of Alamogordo.

Brackish groundwater in Alamogordo is nearly saturated in CaSO₄ (gypsum), which limits desalination yield by reverse osmosis (RO) to about 75% without chemicals or softening. Previous pilot tests conducted at BGNDRF have demonstrated that the ZDD technology is capable desalination yields as high as 97% with a proprietary silica removal system. High recovery processes are essential because of waste disposal costs, fixed water supply, and environmental concerns associated with brine.

Principal Investigator: Malynda Cappelle

Brackish Groundwater National Desalination Research Facilty

ZDD Process Showing Inputs and Outputs