Kansas City, Mo. (September 04, 2008) -- Black & Veatch, a leading
global engineering, consulting and construction company, announced today it is
leading a research project focused on the unique challenges of desalinating
brackish water in Florida.
When completed, the study will provide Florida utilities and other similar
areas of the world with technology and application process recommendations to
utilize additional water resources in order to meet growing consumer demand.
The project is sponsored by the American Water Works Association Research
Foundation (AwwaRF).
“There is growing need for affordable and environmentally responsible
desalination in many regions of the world” said Jennifer Warner, Project
Manager for AwwaRF. “Florida is one such region that has access to brackish
water sources, but many of these sources also contain high concentrations of
natural matter, making desalination more challenging.”
The project builds upon previous desalination studies lead by Black &
Veatch for AwwaRF. The company has previously studied zero liquid discharge
(ZLD) desalination applications for the southwestern United States, and has
evaluated optimal desalination facility design and operation for improved
energy efficiency.
“Water scarcity is a growing global challenge that requires tailored
solutions for the unique needs of each affected region,” said Dan McCarthy,
President and CEO of Black & Veatch’s global water business. “By working
with industry leaders and drawing upon our extensive expertise in both water
treatment and energy generation technologies, we can ensure the people of
Florida, and those in similar situations around the world, have access to a
sustainable water supply.”
The study will evaluate ZLD desalination of brackish water with high
concentrations of natural organic matter (NOM), a common characteristic of
brackish water supplies in Florida. Brackish water has more salinity than fresh
water, but not as much as seawater. Water resources with high NOM
concentrations create unique challenges because the compounds adversely impact
the ZLD desalination treatment processes.
“In east-central Florida alone, water demand is expected to increase 84
percent by 2025,” said Rick Bond, Black & Veatch Water Process Engineer and
Principal Investigator for the project. “Available groundwater supplies will
not meet the increasing demand. Desalination, along with conservation and
recycling, is a key piece of the solution, and ZLD treatment will allow for
protection of surface and groundwater supplies.”
In addition to the high NOM concentration, Bond added that the humid Florida
climate also precludes the use of evaporation ponds, often used for the final
concentrate management step in the ZLD process. To address this issue, the
research team will also explore thermal desalination and enhanced evaporation
technologies. The project will provide concentrate management guidance for
communities where evaporation ponds are not feasible and will develop protocols
that enable utilities to evaluate ZLD processes in their own source waters.
The research team includes scientists and engineers from Black & Veatch,
Texas A&M University, the University of Kansas, the University of North
Carolina, the University of South Carolina and Orica Watercare Inc. Many
members of the research team also assisted with the ZLD desalination study in
the southwestern United States.
The utility partners in this effort are the Orlando Utilities Commission,
Tampa Bay Water, the City of Ormond Beach, Fla., St. Johns River Water
Management District, South Florida Water Management District and Southwest
Florida Water Management District.
About AwwaRF
The Awwa Research Foundation (AwwaRF) is a member-supported, international,
nonprofit organization that sponsors research to enable water utilities, public
health agencies, and other professionals to provide safe and affordable
drinking water to the public. With more than 900 subscriber members in the U.S.
and abroad, AwwaRF has funded and managed more than 1,000 projects. More
information on the Awwa Research Foundation is available at www.AwwaRF.org.
About Black & Veatch
Black & Veatch is a leading global engineering, consulting and construction
company specializing in infrastructure development in energy, water,
telecommunications, management consulting, federal and environmental markets.
Founded in 1915, Black & Veatch develops tailored infrastructure solutions
that meet clients’ needs and provide sustainable benefits. Solutions are
provided from the broad line of service expertise available within Black &
Veatch, including conceptual and preliminary engineering services, engineering
design, procurement, construction, financial management, asset management,
program management, construction management, environmental, security design and
consulting, management consulting and infrastructure planning. With $3.2
billion in revenue, the employee-owned company has more than 100 offices
worldwide and has completed projects in more than 100 countries on six
continents.
Black & Veatch’s global water business provides innovative,
technology-based solutions to utilities, governments and industries worldwide.
Local project managers work with a global team of water and wastewater
treatment process experts to address site-specific challenges through a broad
range of consulting, study, planning, design, design-build and construction
management services. The company’s Web site address is www.bv.com.
Media Contact:
George Minter
(913) 458-8001
minterga@bv.com
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1-866-496-9149
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