CDM provided fast-track design for El Paso Water Utilities and its partner Fort Bliss Army Base on North America's largest inland desalination plant. The 27.5-million-gallon-per-day Kay Bailey Hutchison desalination facilities project—named after the senior U.S. senator from Texas—taps brackish groundwater beneath the desert floor, converting it into a new and sustainable drinking water supply for the city of El Paso and Fort Bliss.
The $87 million, state-of-the-art project—developed through the largest public-private partnership involving the Department of Defense and a municipality—is a collaborative and innovative approach to wisely managing the region's limited resources. Reverse osmosis membranes—a proven technology for coastal desalination—were uniquely applied and refined for this inland application while deep-well injection—fueled by solar energy—safely deposits 3-mgd of concentrate more than 3,500 feet below ground with no adverse environmental impact.
Supported by this new drinking water supply, the Army increased personnel and operations at Fort Bliss, ensuring military readiness and benefiting the local economy. This flagship project demonstrates a holistic water supply approach, integrating fresh groundwater, brackish groundwater, and surface water to maximize limited supplies, and will serve as a model and center of learning for other communities that are looking for sustainable options to meet their long-term water needs.
This project won the American Academy of Environmental Engineers 2008 Superior Achievement Award.