GRACast: Inland Desalination of Brackish Groundwater - Challenges and Opportunities


Presented by:

Ted Johnson
Chief Hydrogeologist
Water Replenishment District

Peter Kavounas
General Manager
Chino Basin Watermaster

 

INTRODUCTION:

Desalination of inland brackish groundwater is becoming an increasingly important tool for augmenting local water supplies and improving groundwater quality. Several local water agencies within the state already have production or pilot projects for inland desalination of brackish groundwater. Others are evaluating the feasibility of including brackish groundwater to their portfolio to meet basin management objectives. Inland desalination can also form a critical component of a Groundwater Sustainability Agency's (GSA's) management alternatives, under SGMA, as it provides an opportunity to improving local water supplies for beneficial use, while reducing undesirable results such as seawater intrusion and impaired water quality. However, there are still significant challenges to inland desalination of brackish groundwater such as ensuring optimal intake salt concentrations, energy and treatment costs, and brine disposal. This Webinar will provide an overview of key considerations that go into the evaluation, planning, development, and operation of successful inland desalination projects. The talks will highlight lessons learned from two successful inland desalination projects - the Chino Basin Desalter Program and WRD's Goldsworthy Desalter in the West Coast Basin. Finally, we will discuss the role of inland desalination vis-a-vis SGMA and/or adjudicated basins.

*Early Registration (July 26) is $75 for Members* and $100 for
Non-Members*

*Registration after July 26 is $100 for Members* and $125 for
Non-Members*

SPEAKERS:

 

Ted Johnson is the Chief Hydrogeologist at the Water Replenishment District of Southern California, managing staff and projects related to groundwater recharge, seawater intrusion and brackish groundwater reclamation, recycled water reuse, groundwater quality, and Watermaster duties for the adjudicated Central and West Coast basins.  He has 32 years of experience, with the past 22 at the water district. He is a California Professional Geologist and Certified Hydrogeologist, and a past Board member and President of the Groundwater Resources Association of California.

 

Peter Kavounas was hired as the General Manager of Chino Basin Watermaster on September 4, 2012. Mr. Kavounas has over 25 years of experience and has worked for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power as the Eastern Sierra Environmental Issues Manager, and for the City of Glendale’s Water and Power Department as the Assistant General Manager-Water Services. Mr. Kavounas was elected to the Castaic Lake Water Agency Board of Directors in 1998 and served for fifteen years holding various positions including the office of Board President.

Mr. Kavounas has a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Minnesota, a Master of Engineering-Structural from UC Berkeley, and a Master of Science-Water Resources from USC. He is also a graduate of Leadership Southern California Class XII, and is a licensed Professional Engineer in the State of California.

As the General Manager Mr. Kavounas oversees all aspects of the organization: meeting obligations to the Judgment and other Court Orders, implementation of the Optimum Basin Management Program, compliance with all regulatory requirements, and business practices.

 

MODERATOR BIO:


Dr. Abhishek Singh has over 15 years of research and consulting experience in the areas of water resources planning and management, hydrologic modeling (surface water and groundwater), risk and uncertainty analyses, optimization techniques, geographic information systems (GIS), and data analytics. Dr. Singh earned his MS and PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. As INTERA’s Manager of California Operations, Dr. Singh oversees water resources projects for Southern California water agencies and utilities. His projects focus on modeling complex hydrogeologic systems and surface-water/groundwater interactions, groundwater planning under SGMA, mitigation against seawater intrusion, reclamation of brackish groundwater, remediation of contaminated groundwater, and evaluation of climate change impacts on water resources. Dr. Singh also provides a variety of permitting and regulatory support to water agencies.

 

BECOME A SPONSOR!
Contact Kristy at kschrimsher@grac.org

Date: Aug. 1, 2018, 12:30 p.m. - Aug. 1, 2018, 1:45 p.m.