Thirty Years of Success in Implementing Desalination

By Roger K. Noack, P.E.

HDR Engineering, Inc.

MSSC 2011 Annual Salinity Summit February 17 – 18, 2011

Presentation Overview

  History of Desalination in Florida In the Beginning Overtime there have been some speed bumps Where we are today Summary

In the Beginning

 Rotunda West Utilities Placida, Florida 1971 Brackish RO Plant 0.3 MGD Design Capacity Groundwater source high TDS and chlorides Surface discharge for the concentrate

Permitting

    Permit to Construct Permit to Operate Local permits – building, clearing, environmental, etc.

Permit to Discharge the Concentrate Started design before having the permit Application is a couple of pages Received approval in a couple of months • Minimal public input

As the world turns….

     More desal plants constructed More information becomes available More public involvement More headaches More engineering work

As the World turns….

    Mid 1980’s Most sources are groundwater Discharge to ocean Major-Seawater Ion Toxicity – Toxicity resulting solely as a result of a surplus or deficit of one or more of the major seawater ions or from the relative proportions of those ions.

As the World turns….

 Tampa Bay Desalination Plant 1996 - West Coast Regional Water Supply Authority ordered to reduce groundwater use 23% by 2003 In October 1996, West Coast Regional Water Supply Authority issued RFP for commercial developer to design, build, operate, and own a desalination plant.

March 3 2010 plant finally hits goal of 25 MGD for 4 months and 20 MGD for 12 months

Where are we today

    Over 140 desalination plants Capacity totaling over 500 MGD Ranging from 0.01 to 25 MGD Source Ocean – A couple Surface – 1 plant Groundwater – Overwhelming majority

Concentrate Disposal in Florida

25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% 45% 40% 35% 30% Surface Deep Well Injection Land Application Sewer Evap Pond Shallow Well Injection

Permitting Today

 Permit to Construct  Permit to Operate  Local permits – building, clearing, etc.

 Permit to Discharge Demineralization Concentrate  Recommend getting Discharge Permit before proceeding with design

Permit to Discharge Demineralization Concentrate

    10 pages of instructions 20 page form Discharge determines information required Surface Underground injection Land application Blending with reclaim water Blending at wastewater facility All information available to public

Summary

     Florida has led the way in desalination The path has not been easy First DBOO – industry learned a lot from this experience More open process today than in the past Can get a permit for construction, operation and discharge, but it will take some time – 1 to 2 years

QUESTIONS

Contact:

[email protected]

813-282-5371

COMMENTS

MSSC 2011 Annual Salinity Summit February 17 – 18, 2011