Black & Veatch, an international engineering and consulting company headquartered here, announced in a September 4 press release that the company is leading a research project focused on the unique challenges of desalinating brackish water in Florida.

When completed, the study will provide Florida utilities and other similar areas of the world with technology and application process recommendations to use additional water resources to meet growing consumer demand. The project is sponsored by the Awwa Research Foundation (AwwaRF).

The study will evaluate zero liquid discharge (ZLD) desalination of brackish water with high concentrations of natural organic matter (NOM), a common characteristic of brackish water supplies in Florida. Brackish water has more salinity than freshwater, but not as much as seawater. Water resources with high NOM concentrations create unique challenges because the compounds adversely impact the ZLD desalination treatment processes, the press release said.

The project builds upon previous desalination studies led by Black & Veatch for AwwaRF. The company has previously studied ZLD desalination applications for the southwestern United States, and has evaluated optimal desalination facility design and operation for improved energy efficiency, the press release said.