Reclamation's Brackish Groundwater National Desalination Research Facility Celebrates 10th Anniversary

Written by: Mary Carlson

The Bureau of Reclamation celebrated the 10th Anniversary of the Brackish Groundwater National Desalination Research Facility in Alamogordo, New Mexico, on September 12 and 13, 2017. The BGNDRF opened on August 16, 2007, and serves as a focal point for developing technologies for the desalination of brackish and impaired groundwater.

The celebration was on September 12 at 4:30 p.m. Local and regional governmental officials joined Reclamation in celebrating 10 years of desalination research at the facility. In addition, former and current research clients, as well as the public reflected on significant accomplishments made over the past decade at BGNDRF.

A series of lectures by experts from NASA, Department of Agriculture and the University of New Mexico took place on September 13 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Topics included water reuse in space, issues associated with emerging contaminants in wastewater effluent and a national perspective on brackish groundwater desalination.

On September 13 from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m., the facility hosted FIRST Lego League and FIRST Robotics members from the region. They participated in an educational event related to this year's water-focused competition theme. Reclamation, U.S. Air Force, NASA and U.S. Department of Agriculture staff gave presentations regarding water and its importance to each agency.

The BGNDRF sits on 43-acres in Alamogordo, New Mexico. The research facility brings together researchers from federal government agencies, universities, the private sector, research organizations, and state and local agencies to work collaboratively and in partnership on cost-effective advancements of desalination technologies.

To learn more about the facility or the event, please visit its webpage at https://www.usbr.gov/research/bgndrf/.

Published on September 13, 2017