Valuing the Potential Contribution of Desalination and Water Reuse to the Water Supply Portfolio of Southern Doña Ana County, New Mexico

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1 College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences Valuing the Potential Contribution of Desalination and Water Reuse to the Water Supply Portfolio of Southern Doña Ana County, New Mexico Principal Investigator: Co-Investigators: Dr. Brian H. Hurd (Department of Ag Econ & Ag Bus) Dr. Pei Xu (Department of Civil Engineering) Dr. KC Carroll (Department of Plant & Environmental Sciences) Dr. Phil King (Department of Civil Engineering) CENTER FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND USE OF ALTERNATIVE WATER SUPPLIES Opportunities for collaborative research between NMSU and the Bureau of Reclamation WORKSHOP: Charting a course for the most meaningful and relevant research implementation Las Cruces Convention Center Tuesday, October 24, 2017 The College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences is an engine for economic and community development in New Mexico, improving the lives of New Mexicans through academic, research, and extension programs.

2 Problem and Need Anticipated Results and Benefits To promote and sustain economic growth and development in Southern Dona Ana County, New Mexico requires additional sources of safe, reliable water supplies for municipal and industrial uses that will not compete for existing water supplies or diminish Rio Grande flows and deliveries to downstream users and compact deliveries. Is there a role for desalination and water reuse in the region s portfolio of water supplies? Results and findings will assist local and state decision makers in evaluating the potential net benefits, implementation challenges, timing, and contribution of brackish water development and water reuse to the portfolio and reliability of available water supplies.

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4 Regional Focus This project contributes to the process of examining several of the economic, social, and environmental aspects of securing additional water supplies for Southern New Mexico. Why a project focused in this region? Because it is an area where: Economic development potential is high, with access to labor, transportation, and border trade with Mexico; Infrastructure and water resource limitations constrain realization of new economic opportunities; Many residents live in at-risk and disadvantaged communities that lack access to safe and reliable waterservices; Communities are vulnerable and illprepared to cope with the risks of climate change.

5 Objectives 1. Develop an assessment tool that combines hydrology, economics, and behavioral aspects of water supply and use. 2. Identify and evaluate economic, societal, and environmental impacts from including brackish groundwater desalination and wastewater reuse in a portfolio of water supply alternatives.

6 Scope The challenges that shape the feasibility of desalination and water reuse in Southern New Mexico are several and include: Quantity, quality, and location of source water Options for concentrate management Fiscal feasibility and funding Regulatory and Rio Grande Compact compliance Local and regional governance Climate change impacts Trends and changes in population, technology, and energy

7 Conceptual Frame

8 Process and Next Steps 1. Identify Stakeholders, Affected Communities, and Geographic Scope 2. Develop Database of Relevant Economic and Physical Parameters from Existing Studies and Reports 3. Design Water-Supply Choice Experiment for Behavioral WTP Model 4. Conduct Focus Group Pilot Study 5. Analyze Focus Group Results and Develop Water- Use and Supply Parameters to Link to Hydro- Economic Watershed Model 6. Modify Hydro-Economic Model and Estimate Water Budget and Economic Impacts and Sensitivity Analsysis of Alternative Water Supplies 7. Develop and Apply Baseline and Climate Change Scenarios to Hydro-Economic Model 8. Prepare and Present Findings to Stakeholders