Dimensions - Winter 2015 - 3

know l e dge

Funding

Our Future

Water
Needs

The historically reliable and cheap groundwater sources
in Colorado, Texas, California, and Florida have reached
unsustainable withdrawal levels and are beginning to dry
up. Government leaders, utilities, and engineers across
the country have altered their focus from prolonging the
inevitable to developing a more diverse water supply
portfolio-an initiative that will require significant
financial investments. In this Dimensions® Q&A, Marc
Walch, PE, ENV SP, discusses how states can shoulder the
financial burden of finding new water supply solutions.

What are some of the alternative water
supply technologies being evaluated?

technologies have been estimated at five times the $2.00

Besides new surface and groundwater treatment

that alternative water supply technologies will ever be as

technologies centered on reverse osmosis membrane and
filtration treatment, utilities have begun supplementing
their water supplies with lower quality groundwater and
reclaimed water. The Dewberry designed Reuter-Hess
Water Treatment Plant near Denver, Colorado, is the
nation's first large-scale potable water treatment facility
using ceramic membrane filter technology. A project
in Wichita Falls, Texas, will supplement one-third of
potable water demand through direct potable reuse.
Fifteen desalination projects have been proposed along
the California coastline, and a lower Florida aquifer
project will stimulate membrane and reverse osmosis

per 1,000-gallon national average cost. It's highly unlikely
cost-effective as the primary options, but those options
are no longer as sustainable as the alternative. Future
treatment technologies will have corresponding increases
in costs associated with development and long-term
operations and maintenance.

Where can utilities find funding
for their water supply initiatives?
Local, state, and federal agencies have grants for small or
disadvantaged communities. There are also low-interest
subsidized loans supported by state revolving funds and
EPA appropriations. The 2014 Water Resources Reform

technology development in Central Florida.

and Development Act contains potential federal funding

What are the financial considerations
that accompany alternative water supplies?

Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act. More interest

The days of inexpensive water are numbered. No matter

investments will follow the more exotic technologies. The

what alternative water supply technologies a community
is evaluating, it's important to remember that they are just
that: alternatives. Some of the more exotic reverse osmosis

sources for water supply projects through the Water
in public-private partnerships using private equity
communities with the greatest needs will likely blaze the
path, as they will be the ones pushing technology barriers
and finding the most innovative financing solutions.
Winter 2015

3
http://www.dewberry.com/news/blog/post/blog/2014/10/16/drought-proof-but-pricy-alternative-water-supply-and-the-central-florida-water-initiative
Dimensions - Winter 2015

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