The gulf coast water authority (gcwa or authority) is a major water provider to municipal- manufacturing- and irrigation users in the SAN jacinto-brazos coastal and lower brazos river basins in texas

The U.S. Department of the Interior's Bureau of Reclamation awarded a $731,000 Project Grant under the Water Recycling and Desalination Construction Programs (CFDA 15.504) to the Gulf Coast Water Authority (GCWA) to conduct a feasibility study for a large-scale regional seawater desalination supply project. This study aims to evaluate the potential for GCWA, a major water provider serving municipal, manufacturing, and irrigation users in the San Jacinto-Brazos Coastal and Lower Brazos River Basins in Texas, to develop a drought-proof water supply portfolio through the integration of seawater desalination with existing surface water resources. The study will involve stakeholder engagement, water supply portfolio modeling, and the formulation and analysis of a seawater desalination project in comparison to other alternatives. The grant award supports GCWA's efforts to enhance regional water supply resilience and efficiently manage water resources to address the impacts of climate change-driven droughts.

Gcwa operates three divisions that are responsible for providing water supply for industry- agriculture- and municipalities in brazoria- fort bend- and galveston counties. Gcwa has recognized seawater desalination as a potential alternative for meeting current and future treated water needs within its service area. Also- because of the end-of-basin location of the authoritys service area and its wide network of water transmission and distribution infrastructure- a large-scale of seawater desalination creates opportunities for leveraging existing water resources through conjunctive water resource management- which would further enhance the regional water supply portfolio. Gcwas goal is to ensure a drought-proof water supply portfolio that contributes efficiently to the regions resilience against climate change driven droughts. Therefore- in this study the authority proposes to define and assess the feasibility of implementing a large-scale seawater desalination project. The study will examine the potential regional impact such new supply would have when conjunctively managed with existing surface (river) water resources. The study will begin with a stakeholder process to gauge regional interest and receive input pertaining seawater desalination. Modeling of the existing water supply portfolio will be performed to determine the appropriate volume of seawater desalination and the timing for its implementation. A seawater desalination project will be formulated and compared against reasonable alternatives previously generated in local and regional water planning efforts. This information will serve as the basis for the title XVI feasibility study report. Regarding how the proposed study activities may contribute to accomplishing the goals and objectives of this funding opportunity- the purpose of the feasibility study is to evaluate the development of a large-scale regional seawater desalination supply which is consistent with the goals stated in the notice of funding opportunity no. R23AS00076NOFO.