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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The Brackish Groundwater National Desalination Research Facility in Alamogordo, New Mexico

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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Bureau of Reclamation

A video describing the Yakima Basin Integrated Plan.

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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