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The Brackish Groundwater National Desalination Research Facility is a focal point for developing technologies for the desalination of brackish and impaired groundwater found in the inland states. The facility, funded by the Bureau of Reclamation's Research and Development Office, Desalination and Water Purification Research Program, opened in 2007 and is designed to conduct research on cost-effective advancements on: brackish ground water desalination, small-scale rural water systems, renewable energy integration, concentrate management, and produced water treatment.
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June 29, 2018
The Brackish Groundwater National Desalination Research Facility is a focal point for developing technologies for the desalination of brackish and impaired groundwater found in the inland states. The facility, funded by the Bureau of Reclamation's Research and Development Office, Desalination and Water Purification Research Program, opened in 2007 and is designed to conduct research on cost-effective advancements on: brackish ground water desalination, small-scale rural water systems, renewable energy integration, concentrate management, and produced water treatment.
The 43-acre facility located in Alamogordo, New Mexico, offers state-of-the-art equipment, laboratory space, and experienced chemical and environmental engineers and scientists in process development, design, construction and testing. Four brackish water wells provide source water to the clients of the facility. Clients consist of universities, private sector companies, entrepreneurs and government agencies. The spacious facility operates seven days per week with flexible operating hours and opportunities to collaborate with nearby universities.
Presently, BGNDRF is hosting New Mexico State University, the University of North Texas, LG Chem, Magna Imperio Systems, and Omya. It is interesting to note that Omya, who is partnered with NMSU, monitors and controls their system at BGNDRF from Switzerland.
BGNDRF, in partnership with NMSU, recently held its first annual Desal 101 class for government employees interested in a basic and broad understanding of desalination. This is anticipated to be the first of many future classes. Additionally, BGNDRF is planning its first annual Water Treatment Innovations and Networking workshop on September 19, 2018. The workshop will be designed to allow clients of BGNDRF to present their work to an audience who may have collaborative interests in their subjects.
The facility has also established itself as an important science resource for Alamogordo area schools. Since 2015, BGNDRF annually hosts all third graders in the Alamogordo Public Schools. In recent years, several local private schools and a homeschool organization have joined in the program. At BGNDRF, the children visit several different stations where they learn about the world’s water supply, brackish water, desalination and other related topics. More than 1500 children visited BGNDRF through the program.
To learn more about the BGNDRF please visit https://www.usbr.gov/research/bgndrf/ or contact the facility manager Randy Shaw at rshaw@usbr.gov.
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Recent News
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The Bureau of Reclamation has allocated more than $4 million for federal, state, and tribal projects to prevent, contain, control, and monitor invasive quagga and zebra mussels in the West. This funding advances actions announced by Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke in June 2017 as part of the initiative called "Safeguarding the West: Actions to Strengthen Federal, State, and Tribal Coordination to Address Invasive Mussels." This funding builds on $1 million in 2017 to support initiatives by the federal government, as well as work by the Western Governors’ Association, western states, and tribes to protect western ecosystems, water infrastructure, and hydroelectric facilities from invasive mussels. Learn More →
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Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Brenda Burman announced that Reclamation has awarded $8.3 million to 15 projects in California, New Mexico and Utah for the preparation and response to drought. The types of projects selected increase water management flexibility and water supply reliability. These projects also reduce the need for drought emergency response actions. The funding provided is part of the U.S. Department of the Interior's WaterSMART initiative. Learn More →
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The Bureau of Reclamation and the Government of the Province of Manitoba reached a settlement ending Manitoba's appeal of the U.S. District Court's August 2017 decision granting summary judgment in favor of Reclamation relating to the Northwest Area Water Supply Project. On June 22, 2018, the United States Department of Justice, the Province of Manitoba and the State of North Dakota filed a Joint Motion for Voluntary Dismissal with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Learn More →
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The Bureau of Reclamation has released two plans for 2018 operations of the Klamath Project. The Operations and Drought plans are based on current reservoir storage and anticipated hydrologic conditions based on the June 1 Natural Resources Conservation Service inflow forecast. The Operations Plan outlines water deliveries during the 2018 spring-summer irrigation season for more than 230,000 irrigated acres on the Klamath Project in southern Oregon and northern California. Learn More →
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The Bureau of Reclamation and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will decrease flows from Lucky Peak Dam by 300 cubic feet per second on Thursday, June 21, 2018, at 8 am. Flows through the city of Boise, as measured at the Glenwood Bridge gauge, will decrease to approximately 900 cfs by Thursday afternoon. Flows through town for the remainder of the season will be operated to meet irrigation demands. Ada County Parks & Waterways will release information on when the Boise River float season begins. Learn More →
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The Bureau of Reclamation’s Science and Technology Program awarded its inaugural Fiscal Year 2017 S&T Project of the Year on June 12. The award went to Kurt Von Fay for the project entitled, “Surface Prep for Concrete Repair - Development of Specifications and Performance Criteria for Surface Preparation Based on Issues Related to Bond Strength.” The award is based on its positive impact to Reclamation and other federal and non-federal partners, it's efforts to address the current Department of the Interior priorities, the involvement of partners and its level of innovation. Learn More →
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Bureau of Reclamation
The collaboration, cooperation, and synergy of the Yakima Basin Integrated Plan has led to numerous improvements in habitat enhancement at agricultural conservation in the Yakima Basin. These two elements of the plan work hand in hand to increase the overall health of the basin.
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