San Antonio Water System Brackish Water Desalination Program, Phase I – Texas
Client
- San Antonio Water System
Project Value 
$119 million
Market
Energy And Environment, Health And Biosciences, Water And Wastewater
Services
Design, Program/Construction Management (PM/CM)
The San Antonio Water System (SAWS) created a program that provides residents with a new, reliable water source. The SAWS Brackish Groundwater Desalination Program turns brackish water from the Wilcox Aquifer in southern Bexar County, TX, into millions of gallons of drinking water through reverse osmosis. The program has three phases and supports the SAWS 2012 Water Management Plan, which aims to meet the city’s long‑term water needs while reducing reliance on the Edwards Aquifer. Brackish groundwater is a plentiful local resource that strengthens San Antonio’s water supply portfolio.
Our Services
We, working in a 50/50 joint venture (JV), were selected by SAWS to serve as the construction manager at‑risk (CMAR) for the first phase of this essential desalination effort.
This $119 million CMAR contract included several major tasks. For example, we performed preconstruction services and drilled and fitted out four new production wells. We also fitted out eight existing production wells and drilled and fitted out one new injection well. Additionally, we fitted out and operated two existing injection wells, upgraded another injection well, and fitted out six monitoring wells. We then built the raw water conveyance system, constructed all program components, and operated the reverse osmosis plant for three months. Finally, we built the new administration building and the operational and control room with a modern SCADA system.
Scope Of Work
The full scope covered 12 raw water production wells, raw and finished water conveyance, residual conveyance, and a new deep injection well. It also included a 12‑MGD reverse osmosis treatment plant, a chemical treatment system, and supervisory control and data acquisition systems. In addition, we built a new administration building that features a public tour route, a pilot plant, and a training facility.
Project Completion
The first phase of the SAWS Brackish Groundwater Desalination Program, an important step toward greater water independence for San Antonio, finished on time and within budget. The new 12‑MGD desalination plant opened in January 2017 and now operates as the largest inland desalination plant in the United States.
