Regional water planning activities have identified the water supply challenges facing many Texas communities. Desalination—of seawater, brackish ground and surface waters, and oilfield-produced waters—is expected to provide an increasing percentage of future water supplies.

Research at Texas universities is contributing to the knowledge base required to implement reliable, cost-effective desalination technologies. This paper summarizes these efforts and identifies additional resources and contacts. However, more research and development will be needed to realize the potential for desalination to contribute meaningfully to community water challenges.