Keywords
Brackish ground water, desalination, renewable energy, wind turbine
Abstract
This demonstration project addresses the continuing depletion of the Ogallala aquifer, the current principal source of potable ground water for much of the Texas High Plains. The project site is Seminole, Gaines County, Texas. Brackish ground water from the much deeper Santa Rosa aquifer in the Dockum group is produced and treated by reverse osmosis (RO) for potential use in the city's municipal supply. The electrical power for the well pump and RO system is assisted by a 50-kW wind turbine. Financial support was from the City of Seminole, Department of Energy, Texas Water Development Board, Bureau of Reclamation, Texas Department of Agriculture, and State Energy Conservation Office. The Santa Rosa well and wind turbine were installed in 2011, and the RO system, turbine, well, and related infrastructure were ready for continuous operation in early 2013. A one-year demonstration will follow to document the seasonal electricity contributions from wind and grid sources.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1936-704x.2013.03151.x
