Inside the CRWA Water Treatment Plan on Lake Dunlap near New Braunfels, Texas

On a recent client visit, I had the opportunity to tour the Canyon Regional Water Authority (CRWA) ultra-filtration water plant located along the Guadalupe River in Comal County, Texas. The plant, known as the "Dunlap Plant" is rated at 16.4 million gallons per day, and is amazing. It treats raw water diverted from the Guadalupe River (Lake Dunlap) through a process known as ultra-filtration. In very simplified terms, the water is withdrawn from the River by a "raw water intake" and then pumped to one of two giant clarifiers (each capable of treating 9 million gallons per day), where mud and other natural contaminents are removed and converted into a liquid sludge. The water is then passed into the main plant and through a series of filters produced by Koch Filter Corporation. The filters are comprised of tube-like cartridges 9situated vertically in the pictures below), which are filled with membrane fibers. During the process the water is also treated with chlorine and other purifiers, and eventually sent to ground storage tanks for distribution to CRWA's member-entities, who ultimately deliver the water top their respective customers through-out South-central Texas.

The complexity of the plant and its operations cannot be described in words. The entire system is monitored and controlled with SCADA technology, and water quality samples are taken daily. CRWA is working with its Member Entities on acquiring future water rights from groundwater and surface water in the Cibolo, Guadalupe, San Antonio and San Marcos River basins. To learn more about CRWA, visit their website.