SAWS seeks suggestions for signature desalination project

• New project envisions high quality water supply to supplement Edwards groundwater

SAN ANTONIO, June 5, 2007 -- Starting today, San Antonio Water System is requesting input from industry experts in developing the region's new Desalination project. The project -- a first for the Edwards region -- utilizes state-of-the-art technology that will create new drinking water resources from previously unused brackish groundwater.

A Request for Expression of Interest (RFEI) was issued by SAWS today to solicit information on Desalination project development activities and possible project delivery methods. This information will be used to assist in project planning, including structuring the formal procurement documents, evaluating project delivery methods, and defining scope(s) of work that will provide SAWS the best opportunity for project success.

"The RFEI offers an invaluable opportunity to gain insight from firms about advantages and challenges in traditional and alternative procurement processes," said Dr. Calvin Finch, SAWS water resources director.

SAWS expects to commence procurement of services for major elements of the Desalination project in early 2008, culminating in a Desalination facility that will be on-line by early 2011.

Brackish groundwater is found in unusual abundance across the State of Texas. According to the Texas Water Development Board, volumes of brackish groundwater total as much as 400 million acre-feet in the San Antonio region alone (Region L). With a Desalination plant, the untapped resource can be transformed into a reliable supply that would augment production of fresh water from the Edwards Aquifer during times of peak demand.

Brackish groundwater desalination would require treatment to make the water potable, followed by concentrate management and transmission of quality drinking water to SAWS customers. The goal is develop up to 22,000 acre-feet annually from brackish groundwater.

"We want input on the smartest, most efficient solutions for developing this project," added Dr. Finch about the RFEI. "We're interested in learning from experiences and finding out which procurement methods are the best options and present the best value to our ratepayers."

As the desalination project moves forward, SAWS has pledged and expects participant adherence to a number of key principles. Among them are optimization of public-private partnerships, safety, performance criteria, and good faith efforts for Small, Minority and Woman-Owned business participation.

The RFEI is not an offer or intent for SAWS to contract with any particular vendor, contractor or consulting firm. It is a vehicle for feedback from stakeholders, especially those from private-sector firms or teams of private-sector firms, who believe they have information that SAWS should consider in the development of the proposed desalination project. Detailed information about the RFEI can be found on the SAWS Web site: www.saws.org.

The SAWS Desalination project is one of the proposed projects that emerged from SAWS' 50-year Water Supply Plan Update in 2005. Currently, SAWS is assessing the feasibility of proposed locations and the procurement methods available for the project. One such method is Design-Build, which was made legal for water projects during the legislative session that just ended in Austin.

Since 1992, San Antonio Water System has provided leadership in managing and developing water resources in the San Antonio region. Water and wastewater services are provided to more than one million consumers in the San Antonio area.

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