The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About2000-11-07; Municipal Water District; 492; Poseidon Feasibility Study - Seawater Desalinationi v rc- - c P ’ l , CARLSBAD IvIUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT - AGENDA AB# - TITLE’ -- Status of Poseidon Feasibility Study MTG. 11/7/00 on Seawater Desalination DEPT. CMWD wb P iILL DEPT. HD. CITY ATTY. CITY MGR. RECOMMENDED ACTION: This is an informational item and therefore there is no staff recommendation at this time. ITEM EXPLANATION: In July of this year the CMWD Board approved a resolution allowing Poseidon Resources to conduct a study. This study is to determine the feasibility of seawater desalination in Carlsbad. Poseidon will be studying to potential sites for a facility location, the Encina Power Plant and the site south of the Encina Wastewater Facility. CMWD has invited adjacent water agencies as well as the Water Authority to attend two recent briefing meetings, one on September 25 and the second on October 23. Poseidon representatives conducted these meetings. These meeting were to allow agencies, besides Carlsbad, to express an interest in participating in any desalination project should Poseidon’s study show feasibility. The purpose of finding out what interest there may be in participating in a possible desalination facility is to help Poseidon determine potential water demands for sizing a desalination facility. Poseidon is also conducting reviews of those agencies’ water systems to determine points where desalinated water could be delivered. Staff has requested that a Poseidon representative present an update on the status of the study at tonight’s meeting. FISCAL IMPACT: This is an informational item and there is no fiscal impact at this time. R:\CMWD\Drafi of AB For Poseidon Status Reportdoc Takiug, Out Salt Is Sweet MarkeAl O/l 6/2000) Home This week’s magazine Cover story Covers and Features lnforrriatlon Technology Stock Tracker Equipment Tracks & Trends lndusrry calendar Opinion People and awards Cost indexes Construction Economics 725 Years In ENR History Headline News BulidlRgS BuSiileSS & Labor Enwronment F viance Technoioyy Transportation lnc!ustrial Power Weather Career Opportunities Project Bids and Legal hlntirnc Page 1 of 7 lpLjg m% 92 b COVER STORY WATER QUALITY (20/26/2000) Taking Out Salt Is Sweet Mark Desalination booms to keep global tapsjlowing By William J. Angelo D esa ma ion, once considered a costly necessity to create usable water in remo 1’ t’ regions or Third World nations, is going mainstream in a big way. Producing dr from seawater, brackish water and other marginal sources isn’t a new idea, but i to be a more popular one. With growing populations demanding more clean wa traditional sources plagued by overuse and undersupply, desalination is no long world’s poor stepchild. PURE PLAY Advances in membrane technology are creating new options for desalination. (Photo courtesy of U.S. Filter Corp.) Thanks to improved membrane technology, engineering and innovative financing, desalina springing up everywhere. That includes the U.! growing cities such as Tampa and Houston, bu depleted aquifers or relentless drought, need a : water source. “According to best estimates, the 11,000 plants now operating worldwide produc 5 billion gallons of water per day,” says Lisa R partner in Aqua Resources International, an Ev research firm. “It is estimated that 400 million in scarce water areas, and the number living in areas could grow to 4 billion by mid-century.” That prospect could be a windfall for the industry’s water supply technology, and construction firms. “The desalination market is expected to double its size ( twenty years,” says Thomas M. Pankratz, director of corporate projects in Hous Filter Corp., a division of Paris-based giant Vivendi Water. “That market is exp valued at more than $70 billion.” UNSALTED The desalination process generally relies on several conventional reverse osmosis, thermal, or electrodialysis reversal. “There are three driving forces-using pressure, boiling or a charge,” says M. Kevin Price, technical services center group manager for the U.S. Dept. of the Interior’s Bureau of Reclamation, which manages federal desalination operations. “The first two remove water from salt, the last removes salt from water.” http://www.enr.com/new/coverstry.asp 10/I 7/00 Taking Out Salt Is Sweet Market-lo/l 6/2000) .I . ’ l , I.“.,““” Price also notes that nanofiltration, used primarily on hard water, may or may not be classified as desalination. “The (Photo courteo ELJR’S ~~~ Ranked Firms industry iS somewhat SChiZOphrenik about the iSSUe,” he StiyS. Water) “Desalination removes dissolved materials, whereas filtration removes particuls k Top Design Firms b Top Contractors ) Top Specialty Contractors b Top International Contractors ) Top International Design Firms the majority of sodium chloride usually goes through the membrane, but larger : calcium and sulfate don’t, So it’s a combination of filtration and desalination.” Small desalination plants dot coastlin such as the Mediterranean and Caribbes now derives about 250 million gal a da) water f?om marginal supplies such as hi groundwater and brackish surface water over 100 desalination plants between 0: Miami,” says Irving Moth Jr., president Associates Inc., a Wilmington, Del., wa consultant specializing in membranes. I desalination has yet to take off in the U. in the Florida Keys stand idle unless a h knocks out the causeway pipeline, and t facility in Santa Barbara, Calif., commi: during a drought, was later mothballed. ) Top Environmental Firms I Top Design Build Firms I Top CM Firms (fee) b Top CM Firms (at risk) Sourcebooks ) Top 500 Design Firms Sourcebook ) Top 400 Contractors Sourcebook k Global Construction SourceBook Online Directories h Links to the industry b Heavy Equipment b Design and construction firms Products and Services ) How to order additional copies or back issues t How to order reprints ) Mailing lists I How to order plaques b Sourcebooks ) ENWBNI Bookshelf About ENR I Contact us ) Advertise on enrcom ) Upcoming stories ) Search back issues ) Mission and history b How to subscribe I How to advertise I Online Job Fair Info L‘rrr‘ tl.,. ,.,-4x GOING DRY The fast-growing Tampa, Fla, region is exhausting its existing wellfield groundwater supply and must reduce prouduction by 2008. (Photo courtesy of Tampa Bay Water) MAINSTREAM It is the advent of large seawater facilities that now excites de boosters. The Middle East already hosts the world’s largest plant, a l-kilometer- Al Jubail, Saudi Arabia. But just this year, the $740-million Taweelah A2 proje began operation (ENR 2/28 p, 21). It incorporates one of the world’s largest cou turbine combined-cycle electricity generation with multi-stage flash distillation. features a 3,300-tonne distiller. Prolonged drought is pushing Israel to build its first major seawater desalina million-cu-m, $150-million facility in Ashkelon, says Yosef Dreizin, a director Water Commission. A development agreement is expected by the end of 2001. be operating in 2003. Dreizin says that by 2020, Israel will need 300 million cu desalinated water to meet local demand. http://www.enr.com/new/coverstry.asp Taking Out Salt Is Sweet Mark& 10/16/2000) . , IVIG;ol LI It3 zlldll b Make enr.com your homepage Site Map EMAIL POLICY PRIVACY POLICY Home Search Back Issues of ENR Search This Site ., HAND IN HAND Tampa’s seawater desalination plant (computer generated in The U.S. also stands as a burgi photo, lower right) will handle some of nearby powerplant’s cooling water. Water is treated and blended elsewhere before use. Leftover seawater is discharged into bay. (Photo and to develop a seawater desalinat diagram courtesy of Tampa Buy Water) large as 100 mgd in Freeport, ‘l other Texas water districts are. considering a facility in the 25mgd to 50-mgd range at Point Comfort. Poseido: exploring threepossible 40-mgd to 50-mgd facilities in Carlsbad, Long Beach a~ Beach, Calif. GOING DRY Desalination is slated to be a key component of Tampa Bay’s pla million water supply enhancement program to keep the sprawling metropolis fn Its 2.5 million residents now use an average of 247 mgd of water, 158 mgd fion that tap the Floridan Aquifer. The wells have been operating since the 193Os, but after the region’s population doubled in the last 20 years, they have been straining to keep up. To facilitate recharging, usage must be cut to 90 mgd, “Tampa is in a critical situation, and it doesn’t have much choice,” says Price, “Either they dry up the environment, stop growth or find another source of water. The region’s three counties- Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco-and the cities of New Port Richey, St. Petersburg and Tampa in 1998 formed a new state agency, Tampa Bay Water, to develop at least 111 mgd of new water sources by 2007. The overall water development program already includes an operating 25,000-gal-per-day pilot seawater desalination plant and proposes two new 25- mgd facilities. The city is also considering one or more brackish water plants in the 4-mgd to 5-mgd-range. Tampa Bay Water’s plan also includes a host of new water treatment and supply facilities (see map, p. 5 1). Tampa Bay Water (Photo courtes) Chairman David J. Fischer, who is also St. Petersburg’s mayor, water) is bullish on desalinated water. “It’s perfectly clear and odorless, like vodka,” hc with other sources, it’s good water and will be the wave of the future.” ECONOMY OF SCALE Construction of the first seawater plant is to begin nc late 2002 completion. A $96million design-build-own-operate-transfer contrac last year to s&w Water llc, a Boston joint venture of Poseidon and the former S Corp. “The thing about desalination is that it can really take advantage of econo says U.S. Filter’s Pankratz. “But as plants get bigger, there are fewer govemmer can finance the cash outlay so they turn to partnerships and design-build. They t and the partnership sells water at a fixed price.” The plant, based on reverse osmosis technology, will be built at a site adjace Electric Co.‘s 1,742-Mw coal-fired Big Bend station. The two-story facility will http://www.enr.com/new/coverstry.asp 1 O/l 7/00 .;;, Taking.Out Salt Is Sweet Marke_tlO/l6/2000) . I . I. .‘. ,.:* -. ‘Gi;:f:IPage +‘:of Q II $! from the powerplant’s cooling water, pretreat it with gravity and cartridge filters’ fresh water from the saltwater through membranes (see diagram, above). Pure water will then be piped 14 miles to ne facilities to be blended with treated surface ant for consumption. The 19 mgd of leftover concc seawater is mixed in the powerplant’s discharge 1,400 mgd used by the facility, before discharg Bay, “This site allows us to take advantage of 1 levels, existing intake and discharge facilities a water,” says Donald E. Lindeman, Tampa Bay GRAND PLAN Tampa’s expanded water system is desalination plant manager. “The result is lowe averaging about $2.08 per 1,000 gallons. Most average about $3.50 to $6.00.” TBW water nov already under construction. (Photo courtesy of Tampa Bay per 1 ,iOO gallons and will rise to $1.69 by 2001 Water) One big desalination issue is concentrate di! Typically Tampa Bay has dissolved salts at about 26,000 milligram per liter, as Gulf of Mexico at 32,000 to 35,000 mg/liter. Returning concentrated seawater f desalination plant into the bay will only cause “about a 1.5% change in salinity 1 within the normal range,” says Lindeman. “And that will be diluted by daily Gu Independent laboratory toxicity tests confirmed that sensitive organisms were n The Florida Dept. of Environmental Protection is now reviewing effluent im computer models and pilot plant data, says Vincent A. Seibold, an administrato: taken this year during a drought when bay salinity was 32,000 mg/liter. ‘That’s : trying to model the worst case scenario,” he says. The desalination plant needs 1 are in hand. “We expect to have all permits, except the discharge permit, by the year,” says Scott A. Pearce, Poseidon vice president. However, Poseidon is also spending time searching for anotl ler partner since ) Webster’s bankr and its eventual Shaw Group, B; “We have short- proposals,” says anticipate makir mid-October.” s 10% partner, wl engineer-procur contract, he say! does not believe construction scI affected. Another gro\- desalination pla Watertown, Ma: Inc., which rece : .i:g Q *i: http://www.enr.com/new/coverstry.asp 1 O/l 7/00 c* :.: I. _I 43. i.q Taking Cut Salt Is Sweet MarketJO/l6/2000) Page 5 of 7 .,a . . . F .’ ’ , Caribbean’s larg water plant, in E ; *, ,,‘,/,, teamed with Wi I Inc.,’ a local f5-m’ to build-own-operate the 7.9~mgd plant in the water-scarce co this year, Ionics also broke ground on a $1 OO-million, build-own-operate, 29-m plant in Point Lisas, Trinidad. Last month, it was the apparent low bidder for su Africa’s first seawater plant, a 3.Cmgd facility in Namibia. One major change driving desalination demand is improved membrane techn Ionics inked a deal with Toray Industries Inc., Tokyo, and New York City-basec Inc. to jointly manufacture reverse osmosis membrane modules for plants. “Mel fastest growing aspect of desalination,” says John W. Arnold, chief operating of company, Toray Membrane America, Watertown, Mass. “There are only two m in the world and we will now become the third.” Arnold says desalination plant energy needs have dropped sharply in the last membrane technology has grown. “Salt rejection of membranes has improved fi 99.8%, which means that only 2 10 of 1% of the salt is going through, elimina for second stage reverse osmosis,” he contends. Operating pressures for bra&is: have dropped from between 200 and 300 psi ten years ago to 100 psi, adds Arn( reduces energy requirement by 50% or more.” NEW POLISH Desalination is also being used increasingly to polish treated wastewater to drinking water standards. Pure water is then used for groundwater recharging and to stop seawater intrusion, The oldest reverse osmosis water reclamation project in the U.S. is the 24-year old Water Factory 21 in Fountain Valley, Calif. “The groundwater was overdrawn and some engineers came up with the idea of using reverse osmosis to post-treat 5 to 15 mgd of treated wastewater and inject it in the aquifer as a seawater intrusion barrier,” says Ronald B. Linsky, executive director of the National Water Research Institute, also in Fountain Valley. “After it goes through the filters, treated water is of higher quality than the groundwater itself.” BOOSTER Fis Now, Orange County Water and Sanitation Districts are options, (Photo looking at a $356 million to $600 million expansion of wf 2 1 Tampa Bay F’Vai to as much as 100 mgd. “The joint boards will make a go-no go decision by December,” says Linsky. “But everything looks favorable. They. blanket to become water independent.” The world’s largest recycle project, in Sl Kuwait, is now in final negotiations. The 30-year, $l-billion deal will treat was1 very high quality, then use it for groundwater recharge and industrial and agricu And desalting technology could soon take another great leap forward. At the osmosis innovation is the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Arling is funding new military applications that will have commercial spillover, DARE http://www.enr.com/new/coverstry.asp 10/17/00 Z,” I/ ; Taking.Out Salt Is Sweet Marke~l0/,16/2000) ,. . ,..: . * ’ ” .I’. -. ,I I. . _’ ,, : i 1 ‘I..% ‘Page 6.of 7 c are testing a process called capacitive deionization that may reduce power requi factor of ten through energy recovery and “shuttling of charges,” says William I DARPA program manager, DARPA is also testing pulse harmonic reverse osm’ applies pulse pressure to a membrane that disturbs concentrated salt buildup ant greater fresh water flow. “It’s like shaking the sand off a screen,” he says. The agency is also studying new membrane spacer technology that increases ,. ,:I,!.,‘..” :I, 6 I ,, .i ; tfl’.;!: :: :::, 1 ,P?i,‘, ,.:,!* , y:. i .,d ‘,‘(, .I:, I i4: :, :s_. ” ;,,: ‘,i,:“‘,’ ‘I “k ,.‘.,;‘,;,,‘::;,.,:‘:, $” ,: /*,* “! ,:,r .,; ‘. ,. ‘. ‘:.,!:, !T,’ ,_,,, ..,/ i I . JorcrcU~tfllwEorlc @!!w!..w.irrj ” .: ,, ‘, (. 1’ .,: ,:,, ,,*, CombPied power and dWlrcatlun @tin& are adUkQ new trmotewrcfest with a process called forward osmosis. Glucose or carbon dioxide is added to pi which acts as a wick drawing water from seawater. “Desalination fell asleep for says. “There was no r&d money, but there were manufacturing, electronic and n revolutions. Now, technology is ready and the need is there so it can only grow. Poseidon’s Pearce envisions at least two or three new Western Hemisphere s coming on line in the next five years and 12 or more in active permitting or con “Growing coastal communities don’t have a lot of options,” he says. “And if yor with powerplants, where there is an existing intake system, the benefits are very GROWING MARKET Barbados plant is Caribbean’s largest to treat brackish water. /Dh.ntn nnrrvtnn-, nt-l”m.,v-.n Rm~ Ulnm..b Hybrid plants consisting o and two desalination plants, and the other reverse osmosi catching on. “During peak p( extraction steam runs the the Pankratz. “In off-peak hours for the osmosis unit allowing infrastructure, reduced labor water and power outputs.” SI powered pilot desalination p springing up in fishing villa5 says Linsky. http://www.enr.com/new/coverstry.asp 10/17/00 .’ Taking Out Salt Is Sweet ‘Mark& 1 O/l 6/2000) . . , ‘Tc,-j Al, ++.“~ “:~:&~L I_ . ,. ,.’ $r-! . . . . “:;+&$:;:~‘ “2 ., -’ ‘, ,.‘I .~;‘.,:.~” v ‘3. Page 7 of 7 : , ’ . (’ IbUbU ‘A/WI bC3y VJ 1 C.Wb~U UUY ?r WC?/ ” Obtaining drinking water is all about options. But as the price of traditional! creeps.up and desalination costs drop, the technology may become the only opti desalination industry anticipates incremental changes that will shave a penny he there while conventional water treatment costs continue to rise,” says Pankratz. beginning to cross if you live below the 1,000~ft elevation from a coastline,” b CLICK HERE FOR PAST COVER STORIES AND FEATURES ,CJ 2000 Engineering News-Record Site Sponsors <+ JlXEDWARDS (MK CEt’JlENNlAC~ http://www.enr.com/new/coverstry.asp 1 O/l 7/00 : j :i: 0 IF+ G 0 *Y-4 rs li srl a> Go t[l) s-i I& . * . 1 m .*, - I, i :I ci rl: ;i: El i 23’ a”’ $$ :: ,gl;i ?3! 2, v), :- -0 & ‘2, 8 y .; 3 : ii. r‘: ;, t ,. :’ I;- ;~ L I !,I, ’ 8 % 5 9 Q”,*;,, i &llal ; 2 iT: ;r; iJ & : 3 3j 0. v: ._. - I ti; (’ i! /,( . . JK 1:‘d i/i{;: ‘k 1 i,is 3 1‘ >I j I]’ ’ :3 ;. I k a 21 3, -jj_i i( t H ‘I Irr;c~ “ L