Brackish Groundwater Desalination Program

Brackish Groundwater Desalination Program | San Antonio, TX

The purpose of the Program is to provide a process for the design and construction of a Brackish Groundwater Desalination (BGD) Program. This will provide for up to an additional 25 (MGD) source of potable water for the San Antonio Water System (SAWS) and is a key component of SAWS’ 50-Year Water Resource Plan.

The BGD consists of 13 production wells; a raw water conveyance system; a reverse osmosis water treatment plant; a post-treatment storage tank; a residuals disposal conveyance system, pre-injection facilities; and three injection wells. The initial system will deliver  ten MGD of treated water with future expansion planned for an added ten MGD by 2021 and five MGD by 2026.

Construction of the program is being accomplished under one contract using the Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) process. The CMAR was selected in 2012. The system is currently engaged in operational readiness testing, heading toward performance acceptance testing and final construction punchlist.

CAS served as a member of the program management/construction management team providing:

• QA/QC of CMAR work packages, including constructibility and “bid-ability” of the CM-at-Risk work package front end documents.
• Construction Management Plan, defining roles and responsibilities of SAWS and Program Management Team staff, establishing reporting requirements and lines of communication, and describing all CM processes and protocols to perform day-to-day construction management activities.
• Monthly Progress Reporting
• Served on Resident Project Representative Team. Staff provided focused inspection coverage for special inspections (e.g. steel framing process/connections, reinforcing steel placement, etc.) and for architectural completion/fit-and-finish requirements including: cast-in-place concrete and structural elements, storage/process tank, overall vertical construction, concrete and asphalt paving, masonry, interior finish, roof membranes, coordination with/between trades, and site utilities.