Brackish Groundwater Desalination: A Decision Support Tool
Date
2022-05
Authors
Cunningham, Sheila
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Abstract
The purpose of this study is to provide water utility decision makers like city managers, water company managers, city council members, etc. with key questions to consider prior to choosing whether to embark on a brackish groundwater desalination program for their utility. The scholarly literature review indicated five areas of greatest importance for consideration when contemplating a brackish groundwater project. Those topics included power source, source water availability, brine concentrate disposal, support for the program and cost. Twenty initial questions from these five topic areas were created and then posed to twelve subject matter experts, via remote interview, for their comment. Experts interviewed included engineers, water company managers, state association directors, both state and federal agency program administrators, and a retired city manager. With the guidance of these experts, four new “qualifying questions” were created. Six questions were changed extensively. Six questions were modified slightly, and eight questions remained unchanged.
Description
An Applied Research Project Submitted to the Department of Political Science, Texas State University, in Partial Fulfillment for the Requirements for the Degree of Masters of Public Administration, Spring 2022.
Keywords
desalination, decision support, water, brackish groundwater, drinking water, municipal water supply, Public Administration
Citation
Cunningham, S. (2022). Brackish groundwater desalination: A decision support tool. Masters of Public Administration, Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas.