Not Just a Better Mousetrap: Outside-the-Box Thinking in Concentrate Management Brent Alspach ARCADIS
Authors Brent Alspach, PE, BCEE Senior Environmental Engineer ARCADIS Carlsbad, CA Dr. Kerry Howe, PE, BCEE, PhD Associate Professor Department of Civil Engineering University of New Mexico Albuquerque, NM
Presentation Overview • The Necessity of Desalination • “Conventional” Concentrate Management • The Problem of Contemporary Rodents • Attributes of Innovative Strategies • Case Studies • The Future of Concentrate Management
The Necessity of Desalination What water treatment applications require desalination?
The Necessity of Desalination What water treatment applications require desalination?
The Necessity of Desalination What water treatment applications require desalination? • Brackish groundwater Obviously. • Seawater
The Necessity of Desalination What water treatment applications require desalination? • Brackish groundwater • Seawater • Non-potable reuse General recycled water for irrigation, industrial use, etc.
The Necessity of Desalination What water treatment applications require desalination? • Brackish groundwater • Seawater • Non-potable reuse • Indirect potable reuse OCWD Groundwater Replenishment System: 92 MGD
The Necessity of Desalination What water treatment applications require desalination? • Brackish groundwater • Seawater Coming soon in Texas… • Colorado River MWD • Non-potable reuse • City of Brownwood • Indirect potable reuse • Direct potable reuse CRMWD facility under construction
The Necessity of Desalination What water treatment applications require desalination? • Brackish groundwater • Seawater • Non-potable reuse • Indirect potable reuse • Direct potable reuse • Saline surface water Average TDS of Colorado River water imported to SoCal: 650 mg/L
The Necessity of Desalination What water treatment applications require desalination? • Brackish groundwater • Seawater Produced water salinity can • Non-potable reuse exceed 400,000 mg/L • Indirect potable reuse • Direct potable reuse • Saline surface water • Produced water
Limiting Factors Cost Concentrate Less an issue of May not be feasible ability to overcome as to overcome willingness to overcome
Limiting Factors Cost Concentrate Less an issue of May not be feasible ability to overcome as to overcome willingness to overcome
“Conventional” Concentrate Management What are the five commonly cited management strategies? Surface Water Discharge Deep Well Injection Evaporation Ponds Land Application Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD)
“Conventional” Concentrate Management “Conventional” Options Surface Water Discharge Deep Well Injection Evaporation Ponds Land Application Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD)
“Conventional” Concentrate Management Issues / Limitations “Conventional” Options Surface Water Discharge* • Environmental permitting Deep Well Injection • Availability of suitable receiving bodies Evaporation Ponds • Impact on downstream water supplies Land Application Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) * Includes transfer to WWTPs
“Conventional” Concentrate Management Issues / Limitations “Conventional” Options Surface Water Discharge • Environmental permitting Deep Well Injection • Potential for inducing earthquakes Evaporation Ponds Land Application Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD)
“Conventional” Concentrate Management Issues / Limitations “Conventional” Options Surface Water Discharge • Environmental permitting Deep Well Injection • Available area • Capital cost Evaporation Ponds Land Application Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD)
“Conventional” Concentrate Management Issues / Limitations “Conventional” Options Surface Water Discharge • Environmental permitting Deep Well Injection • Available area • Capital cost Evaporation Ponds Land Application Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD)
“Conventional” Concentrate Management Issues / Limitations “Conventional” Options EXAMPLE: Surface Water Discharge • 4 MGD BWRO plant Deep Well Injection • 80% recovery Evaporation Ponds • Evaporation rate = 160”/yr (~ Death Valley) Land Application ~84 acres required Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD)
“Conventional” Concentrate Management Issues / Limitations “Conventional” Options • Environmental permitting Surface Water Discharge • Distribution Deep Well Injection • Requires salt-tolerant crops Evaporation Ponds • Micropollutant toxicity Land Application • Increase in soil salinity Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD)
“Conventional” Concentrate Management Issues / Limitations “Conventional” Options Surface Water Discharge Deep Well Injection COST Evaporation Ponds Land Application Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD)
“Conventional” Concentrate Management Issues / Limitations “Conventional” Options Surface Water Discharge • Very high operating cost (~ $2 - $25 / kgal recovered)* Deep Well Injection • Only one (?) municipal Evaporation Ponds application Land Application Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) * Bond &Veerapaneni, JAWWA , Sept. 2008
Summary of “Conventional” Limitations Permitting Availability Environmental Cost Impact
Building a Better Mousetrap “Conventional“ options are getting better • ZLD is getting cheaper (in theory…) • More salt-tolerant crops are being grown • Engineered wetlands are being developed • …etc. The mousetrap is improving.
Building a Better Mousetrap “Conventional“ options are getting better • ZLD is getting cheaper (in theory…) • More salt-tolerant crops are being grown • Engineered wetlands are being developed • …etc. The mousetrap is improving.
Building a Better Mousetrap “Conventional“ options are getting better • ZLD is getting cheaper (in theory…) • More salt-tolerant crops are being grown • Engineered wetlands are being developed • …etc. But it’s still a mousetrap.
The Problem of Contemporary Rodents Characteristics of modern mice More numerous Bigger Genetically diverse Smarter
The Problem of Contemporary Rodents Characteristics of modern mice More numerous The number of desalination / concentrate management applications is growing quickly. Bigger Genetically diverse Smarter
The Problem of Contemporary Rodents Characteristics of modern mice More numerous Desalination plants are Bigger getting larger. Genetically diverse Smarter
The Problem of Contemporary Rodents Characteristics of modern mice More numerous Bigger Non-traditional desalination applications Genetically diverse are both increasing and increasingly important. Smarter
The Problem of Contemporary Rodents Characteristics of modern mice More numerous Bigger Genetically diverse Desalination applications are more challenging Smarter and complex.
The Problem of Contemporary Rodents Characteristics of modern mice More numerous Truly innovative concentrate Bigger management strategies are needed. Genetically diverse Smarter
Attributes of Innovative Strategies Applicability Scalability • More focused / limited… • Matches scale of application • Batch vs. continuous flow • …but part of toolbox Economy Sustainability • Economical vs. affordable • Environmentally friendly • Cost vs. “no water” option • Neutral impact is positive Feasibility Synergy • Similar to conventional options • Ideally characteristic • Site- / application-specific • Represents dual solution
Attributes of Innovative Strategies Applicability Scalability • More focused / limited… • Matches scale of application • Batch vs. continuous flow • …but part of toolbox Economy Sustainability • Economical vs. affordable • Environmentally friendly • Cost vs. “no water” option • Neutral impact is positive Feasibility Synergy • Similar to conventional options • Ideally characteristic • Site- / application-specific • Represents dual solution
Case Studies
Case Studies: Overview Important considerations • Good concentrate management options, but imperfect • Not intended to be an endorsement • Focus should be less on these specific cases and more on their innovative characteristics and approach
Case Studies: Overview Important considerations • Good concentrate management options, but imperfect • Not intended to be an endorsement • Focus should be less on these specific cases and more on their innovative characteristics and approach Goals • Provide examples of alternative approaches • Stimulate innovative thinking!
Case Studies: Overview Important considerations • Good concentrate management options, but imperfect • Not intended to be an endorsement • Focus should be less on these specific cases and more on their innovative characteristics and approach Goals • Provide examples of alternative approaches • Stimulate innovative thinking!
Case Study # 1: Calera MAP Process
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