The U.S. Department of the Interior announced in a press release last week funding for the Brackish Groundwater National Desalination Research Facility (BGNDRF) in Alamogordo, New Mexico.
“As we work to implement historic funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we are looking to cutting-edge and innovative solutions to support Western communities in the face of record drought and climate change," Interior Secretary Deb Haaland said in the May 3 release. "Investments in desalination, water treatment and reuse are critical as we work to safeguard community water supplies and expand access to clean, reliable drinking water for families, farmers and tribes.”
The facility in Alamogordo has allowed researchers from other federal government agencies, universities, the private sector, research organizations and state and local agencies to work collaboratively since 2007.
Work at the facility focuses on five areas. These are solutions to concentrate management, outreach and education, renewable energy/desalination hybrids, small-scale desalination systems, and desalination technologies for produced waters. More information on the facility can be found here.
PFAS (Per- and poly-fluorinated alkyl substances) contamination was initially discovered in an evaporation pond at the facility in 2017. Two wells in 2019 hindered the facility’s ability to safely treat water.
Alamogordo plans to use funding from the May 3 announcement to construct an advanced water treatment facility and associated infrastructure there in response to the PFAS contamination. This will allow full utilization of BGNDRF by restoring access to all brackish wells and reducing the operational load on the other two wells.
The new building will be designed to treat up to two wells at a time with possible future connections to the remaining wells at the facility.
PFAS are often called "forever chemicals." The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has set timelines for specific action and for bolder new policies to safeguard public health, protect the environment and hold polluters accountable. The actions described in the PFAS Roadmap each represent steps to safeguard communities from PFAS contamination, according to the EPA.
Desalination and water treatment technologies are critical for safeguarding community water supplies, expanding access to clean drinking water, and supporting Western communities in the face of climate change.
The Alamogordo facility is one of many working toward these goals.
