Parsons Corporation is leading a joint venture to serve as the construction manager at risk for the San Antonio groundwater desalination program in Texas, USA.

The engineering company, which will be partnered by local construction company Zachry, announced on 17 January 2013 that its US$ 86 million contract includes preconstruction phase collaboration with the San Antonio Water System program management and design teams, construction of all program components and six months of treatment plant operations.

The scope of work includes 13 raw water production wells, raw and finished water conveyance, residual conveyance, three deep injection wells, a 10 MGD (37,850 m³/d) reverse-osmosis (RO) membrane water treatment plant, a 7.5 MGD (28,400 m³/d) finished water storage reservoir, chemical treatment systems, supervisory and data acquisition controls, and a new administration building that incorporates a public tour route, pilot plant and training facility.

"Parsons is pleased to be collaborating on this important project that advances SAWS' sustainable water supply strategy by preserving potable groundwater aquifers and employing RO membrane technology to desalinate previously untapped brackish groundwater," said Virginia Grebbien, Parsons Group president.