Water Transitions in the Binational El Paso, Texas – Cd. Juárez, Mexico Region through the Lens of Solar Desalination

Keywords: desalination, solar energy, new water resources, transboundary issues, political issues
Session Type: Virtual Poster Abstract
Day: Monday
Session Start / End Time: 2/28/2022 11:20 AM (Eastern Time (US & Canada)) - 2/28/2022 12:40 PM (Eastern Time (US & Canada))
Room: Virtual 33

Abstract

Water desalination is increasingly important for the arid city of El Paso and is a potential future water source for neighboring Cd. Juárez. As both cities drill deeper into the Hueco Bolson aquifer, a primary water source, it has yielded increasingly saline water. In response, El Paso Water and Fort Bliss jointly constructed a reverse osmosis (RO) desalination plant to protect the Hueco Bolson’s freshwater supplies and expand water sources. However, Cd. Juárez, does not have a similar desalination plant. RO water desalination, however, is an expensive, energy-intensive process currently dependent on carbon-heavy fossil fuels. But, solar energy is an abundant, carbon-free energy source that could potentially reduce the energy costs and carbon footprint of RO desalination. For my master’s work, I hypothesized that building a solar microgrid that supplies El Paso’s desalination plant with energy in tandem with the regional grid will reduce the plant’s energy expenditures in the long term compared to solely buying energy from the regional grid. The results suggest that a solar microgrid whose modules use one axis tracker could reduce the plant’s energy expenses. For my doctoral research, I hypothesize that a similar facility could supply Cd. Juárez with water in the future. I also discuss the political, cultural, and geographical challenges the region faces in securing its water supply and how desalination could improve or exacerbate those concerns. These include a growing population, concerns about groundwater versus surface water allocation, adjusting historic agreements, and a changing climate with an uncertain water future.