San Antonio Water System (SAWS) is constructing what will become the largest inland desalination plant in the USA. The plant will desalinate groundwater from the Wilcox Aquifer in southern Bexar County, Texas.

There are 'oceans' of brackish water under our feet unaffected by temporary weather conditions, so this is a supply that will be there for us even in drought," said SAWS president and chief executive Robert R. Puente.

The 60 million litres a day, reverse osmosis plant is scheduled to open in 2016 a cost of $192.7 million. Additions to the plant are scheduled for 2021 and 2026 taking its output to 150 million litres a day and the final cost to US$411 million.

As part of the Texas State Water Plan, SAWS has accessed more than $100 million in low- interest loans from the Texas Water Development Board to help fund the plant's construction.

[출처 = Desalination & Water Reuse / 2014년 7월 8일]