Water. Desalination + reuse
Issue link: https://fhpublishing.uberflip.com/i/545366
REGIONS | 48 | Desalination & Water Reuse | August-September 2015 Rain delays desalination project at Mineral Wells After rainfall boosted Lake Palo Pinto in Texas, US to almost 30% capacity, officials at the city of Mineral Wells have elected to delay completion of a reverse osmosis facility for at least 12 months. "The lake level is about a foot higher water level than last year," said city manager, Lance Howerton. He said the 60% water rate increase, made in January to pay for the reverse osmosis facility, will remain in place to cover the US$ 3 million in construction costs already incurred by the water district. Construction on the reverse osmosis plant began on 2 April with digging of solid waste lagoons. According to the Palo Pinto County Municipal Water District 1, the rise of about eight feet gives the city about 14 months of water, Howerton said, "assuming we continue with our current water use restrictions." Lake Palo Pinto was at 29.4% capacity on 30 April, up from 9.1% at the beginning of the month, according to the Texas Water Development Board's Water Data for Texas. The National Weather Service accurately predicted a wet May and June. May is the wettest month of the year in the region during normal rainfall periods. Obama ups federal powers to curb river pollution US president, Barack Obama, has upped federal protection of the country's waterways and drinking water supplies with a rule that clarifies which rivers, streams, ponds and wetlands may be covered by the 1972 Clean Water Act. The measure, known as the Clean Water Rule, was issued through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and has drawn fierce opposition from fertilizer companies, the agriculture sector, energy producers and conservatives in Congress for being over intrusive. Critics have said the rule will hamper economic growth and drive up costs for farmers and chemical producers. EPA Administrator, Gina McCarthy, has said it will not hamper economic growth. The new rule, according to the Obama administration, restores some – but not all – federal authority undermined by court rulings over the past 15 years. President Obama said: "This rule will provide the clarity and certainty businesses and industry need about which waters are protected by the Clean Water Act, and it will ensure polluters who knowingly threaten our waters can be held accountable." He went on to say the rule was designed not to "get in the way of farming, ranching or forestry." The rule is understood to maintain exemptions for farmers but they must pay fees or obtain permits for any work that could cause polluted water to run into any body covered by the Clean Water Act. Nearly 120 million people in the US take drinking water from sources that may not be protected by the Clean Water Act. It gives the federal government powers to limit pollution "navigable" waterways. But the reach of the act was compromised in about 15 years ago by Supreme Court rulings that made it unclear whether the act also covered groundwater or tributaries to larger waterways. NORTH AMERICA North Dakota district forges ahead with reuse plan Stutsman Rural Water District in North Dakota is continuing plans for a US$ 150 million water reuse plant to provide industrial water to a US$ 3 billion nitrogen fertilizer plant planned by farmer- owned cooperative, CHS, at Spiritwood. Bob Keller, project engineer for contraction engineers Bartlett and West, said plans call for construction of two buildings with one operated by Stutsman Rural Water District to process greywater from Cargill Malt, Dakota Spirit, AgEnergy and Spiritwood Station before mixing it with water from the Spiritwood and Jamestown aquifers and subsequent filtering of the combined water. This water would be piped to the second building – a plant operated by CHS to purify the water to meet its needs. A spokesman for Stutsman Rural Water, said the arrangement would enable it to process and sell water to other industrial users that may not require the same high-quality water demanded by CHS. The spokesman said it was continuing to negotiate contracts with greywater suppliers and CHS for the plant. The North Dakota legislature has authorized a US$ 10 million grant and US$ 40 million in low-interest loans for the project. If constructed, the water demand of the CHS plant will be more than 26 Ml/d. CHS' construction plans are on hold while plans to meet its water requirements are finalized and it completes negotiations with contractors. NORTH AMERICA ASIA & PACIFIC Australian utility still seeking dump site for desalination Australian utility, Water Corporation remains without an alternative dumping site for wastewater from its desalination system in Denmark, Western Australia after its original choice of a temporary site was thrown out by the local community. Water Corporation abandoned its plan to dump the brine discharge at Perkins Beach, after widespread community backlash. It told residents it would decide on an alternate plan but a spokesman said it was still appraising the financial, environmental and other implications of other options. Water minister, Mia Davies, said it was her "expectation" that Water Corporation would find a suitable solution after consulting with the local community. "The project is important. Denmark does have significant issues in terms of ongoing water supply. I'm sure Water Corporation will be able to find an alternative that meets the community's expectations as well as mine," said Davies.