SWRA Brackish Groundwater Treatment Facility Provides Potable Water

In a significant effort to secure water resources for the region, the Southmost Regional Water Authority (SRWA) recently launched its Brackish Groundwater Treatment Facility in Brownsville. This cutting-edge facility is designed to transform brackish, or slightly salty, groundwater into high-quality drinking water using advanced desalination technology.

Brackish water, a mix of saltwater and freshwater, presents a challenge for traditional water treatment methods. However, the SRWA desalination plant has the capability to pump and purify 10 million gallons of this water per day, providing a crucial alternative water source for the area.

“Southmost Regional Water Authority is a partnership of five entities that came together during the drought of the late 1990s,” explained Judy Adams, division manager for SRWA. “We studied the groundwater available to us and conducted a pilot study with reverse osmosis technology. This process allows us to take the brackish water from underground, purify it, and produce potable drinking water.”

The facility’s launch marks a key milestone in the region’s water infrastructure development. By providing water to its five partner entities, the SRWA facility reduces their reliance on the Rio Grande, ensuring a stable supply even when the river levels are low or compromised.

“What the Southmost Regional Water Authority offers is an alternative water source that’s independent of the Rio Grande,” Adams continued. “This brackish groundwater is separate from the river, so if the river gets too low or something affects its quality, we have this alternate source we can rely on to supply water to our partners.”

The SRWA plant stands out as a state-of-the-art facility, utilizing advanced membrane technology to produce exceptionally high-quality drinking water. When it was first built, it was the largest inland desalination facility of its kind. Though larger plants have since been constructed, the SRWA facility remains a pioneer in using this advanced technology for municipal water supply, ensuring that the communities it serves have reliable and safe drinking water even during challenging times.