Brownsville Public Utilities Board - Texas Commission on ...
Brownsville Public Utilities Board - Texas Commission on ...
Brownsville Public Utilities Board - Texas Commission on ...
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Primary Water Source<br />
Rio Grande<br />
The Rio Grande is a river that flows from<br />
southwestern Colorado in the United<br />
States to the Gulf of Mexico. Al<strong>on</strong>g the<br />
way it forms part of the Mexico–United<br />
States border.
Primary Water Source: Issues<br />
• Variable flows (high/low)<br />
• Invasive aquatic plant species<br />
• Water quality c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s<br />
• Fluctuating suspended and fine particles (muddy)<br />
• Total dissolved solids (dissolved minerals, salts)<br />
• Nutrient levels and sulfates<br />
• Algae and bacteria<br />
• Internati<strong>on</strong>al boundary – watershed<br />
management is complicated
Water Supply: Management<br />
• TCEQ Watermaster Program<br />
• Municipal Water Rights<br />
• 29,285 acre-feet<br />
• 7 day advance order for travel time<br />
• Permit 1838 (Surplus water)<br />
• 40,000 acre-feet<br />
• Intermittently available, depending <strong>on</strong><br />
river flows<br />
• Maintain resaca levels
Rio Grande at <str<strong>on</strong>g>Brownsville</str<strong>on</strong>g> High Flows<br />
October 10, 2008<br />
July 26, 2010
Rio Grande at <str<strong>on</strong>g>Brownsville</str<strong>on</strong>g> Low Flows
Off-Channel Reservoirs
River Intake and Pump Stati<strong>on</strong>s
Water Reservoirs<br />
• Short-term storage<br />
• Reservoir 1 - 36 MG<br />
• Reservoir 2 - 95 MG<br />
• Combined<br />
operating capacity:<br />
5 to 6 days
Resaca Restorati<strong>on</strong>
What are Resacas?<br />
• Isolated<br />
distributaries of the<br />
Rio Grande<br />
• Natural flow has<br />
been cut off<br />
• Today water must<br />
be pumped into the<br />
resacas to maintain<br />
water levels
Why are Resacas Important?<br />
• Adjacent landowners<br />
• Community benefits:<br />
• Stormwater storage capacity (drainage benefits)<br />
• Raw water storage capacity<br />
• Habitat for bird/wildlife species
Why are Resacas Important?<br />
Resaca de la Palma State Park<br />
• Improved aesthetics<br />
• Attractive park<br />
areas<br />
• Opportunities for<br />
recreati<strong>on</strong> & ecotourism<br />
• Ec<strong>on</strong>omic<br />
development<br />
potential<br />
Dean Porter Park
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Brownsville</str<strong>on</strong>g> Resacas
Elements of Restorati<strong>on</strong> Project<br />
• Dredging<br />
• Restore original<br />
resaca profiles<br />
depth<br />
• Erosi<strong>on</strong><br />
c<strong>on</strong>trol/stabilizati<strong>on</strong><br />
• Re-vegetati<strong>on</strong><br />
• Beautificati<strong>on</strong><br />
• Habitat restorati<strong>on</strong><br />
• Educati<strong>on</strong>/communit<br />
y awareness<br />
• Create potential for<br />
public amenities<br />
Gentle<br />
p<strong>on</strong>d side<br />
slopes for<br />
safety<br />
Organic<br />
muck<br />
or peat<br />
Woody<br />
trees and<br />
shrubs<br />
Emergent<br />
plants<br />
Rooted<br />
surface<br />
plants<br />
P<strong>on</strong>d soil<br />
substrate<br />
Impervious layer<br />
Submergent plants
Dean Porter Park Resaca Cross-Secti<strong>on</strong>
Why is Resaca Restorati<strong>on</strong> Needed?<br />
Estimated removal of<br />
approximately 100,000<br />
cubic yards in 4 pilot sites
Dean Porter/Town Resaca
Surface Water Treatment<br />
• 2c<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>al treatment plants (20 MGD each)<br />
• Chemical coagulati<strong>on</strong>/sedimentati<strong>on</strong> and filtrati<strong>on</strong><br />
processes<br />
• Provide 75% of tap water to <str<strong>on</strong>g>Brownsville</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
• Meet drinking water standards<br />
• Taste and odor-related to decaying vegetati<strong>on</strong><br />
and microbiota (dissolved organics)<br />
• T&O Treatment: powdered activated carb<strong>on</strong>,<br />
chlorine dioxide
Surface Water Treatment
Source vs. Tap Water
Diversificati<strong>on</strong><br />
L<strong>on</strong>g-Term Water Supply Strategy<br />
• Surface Water<br />
• Purchase water rights<br />
• Increase storage capacity in<br />
resacas<br />
• Brackish Groundwater<br />
Desalinati<strong>on</strong><br />
• Southmost Regi<strong>on</strong>al Water<br />
Authority RO Treatment Facility<br />
• Seawater Desalinati<strong>on</strong><br />
• Pilot plant<br />
• <str<strong>on</strong>g>Texas</str<strong>on</strong>g> desal project – proactively<br />
• Identify envir<strong>on</strong>mental c<strong>on</strong>cerns<br />
• Future dem<strong>on</strong>strati<strong>on</strong> project
Southmost Regi<strong>on</strong>al Water Authority<br />
BPUB<br />
City of Los<br />
Fresnos<br />
Valley<br />
Municipal<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Utilities</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
District No. 2<br />
Town of<br />
Indian Lake<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Brownsville</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Navigati<strong>on</strong><br />
District
Southmost Regi<strong>on</strong>al Water Project
Brackish Groundwater Desalinati<strong>on</strong><br />
• SRWA RO Treatment<br />
Facility<br />
• C<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong><br />
completed in 2004<br />
• 20 brackish<br />
groundwater wells<br />
• Reverse osmosis<br />
membrane technology<br />
• 7.5 MGD capacity<br />
• Future microfiltrati<strong>on</strong><br />
project and expansi<strong>on</strong><br />
funded by DWSRF
‘06-’08 Lower Rio Grande Regi<strong>on</strong>al<br />
Seawater Desalinati<strong>on</strong> Pilot Study<br />
BPUB<br />
TCEQ<br />
Port of<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Brownsville</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
NRS
Project Results<br />
• C<strong>on</strong>firmed seawater<br />
desal is technically<br />
feasible<br />
• Dem<strong>on</strong>strated<br />
performance of<br />
various treatment<br />
technologies<br />
• Identified operating<br />
challenges<br />
• Ship channel –<br />
extreme raw water<br />
variability
Proposed Dem<strong>on</strong>strati<strong>on</strong><br />
1. Develop a 2 to 3 MGD<br />
SWRO project <strong>on</strong> the<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Brownsville</str<strong>on</strong>g> Ship<br />
Channel<br />
2. Integrated<br />
renewable/sustainable<br />
energy<br />
3. Integrated research<br />
capability
Upcoming Water Projects<br />
• Filter Rehabilitati<strong>on</strong> Project<br />
• Surface water treatment plants<br />
• Resaca Restorati<strong>on</strong><br />
• Provide additi<strong>on</strong>al capacity for offchannel<br />
water storage<br />
• SRWA Microfiltrati<strong>on</strong> and Expansi<strong>on</strong><br />
Project
Judy K. Adams<br />
Water Treatment Manager<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Brownsville</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Public</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Utilities</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Board</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
(956) 983-6688<br />
JAdams@brownsville-pub.com
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