By: Callegari H.B. No. 29
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to research on and the treatment of saline water.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 341.001, Health and Safety Code, is
amended by adding Subdivisions (2-a) and (6-a) to read as follows:
(2-a) "Desalination facility" means a facility used
for the treatment of saline water to remove dissolved mineral salts
and other dissolved solids.
(6-a) "Saline water" means water that contains a total
dissolved solids concentration of more than 1,000 milligrams per
liter.
SECTION 2. Subchapter C, Chapter 341, Health and Safety
Code, is amended by adding Section 341.0361 to read as follows:
Sec. 341.0361. DESALINATION OF WATER FOR DRINKING WATER.
(a) This section applies only to a desalination facility that is
intended to produce water for the public drinking water supply.
This section does not apply to a desalination facility used to
produce nonpotable water.
(b) The commission shall adopt rules to:
(1) allow water treated by a desalination facility to
be used as public drinking water; and
(2) ensure that water treated by a desalination
facility meets the requirements of Section 341.031 and rules
adopted under that section.
(c) A person may not begin construction of a desalination
facility unless the commission approves in writing the plans and
specifications for the facility.
(d) A person may not begin construction of a desalination
facility that treats saline water for the purpose of removing
primary or secondary drinking water contaminants unless the
commission approves in writing a report containing:
(1) a computer model acceptable to the commission;
(2) a pilot study with a minimum 40-day run duration
without treatment intervention to meet federal and state safe
drinking water standards;
(3) data from a similar system installed at another
saline water desalination facility that treats source water of a
similar or lower quality; or
(4) a full-scale verification study with a minimum
40-day run duration without treatment intervention to meet federal
and state safe drinking water standards.
(e) Not later than the 100th day after the date the
commission receives the report for a proposed desalination
facility, the commission shall review the report and issue an
exception response letter that may contain conditions for approval.
(f) Not later than the 60th day after the date the
commission receives the plans and specifications for a proposed
desalination facility, the commission shall review the plans and
specifications and issue a response letter that may contain
conditions for approval.
(g) A person violates this section if the person fails to
meet a condition for approval in a letter issued to the person under
Subsection (e) or (f).
SECTION 3. Chapter 111, Education Code, is amended by
adding Subchapter J to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER J. TEXAS CENTER FOR INNOVATIVE
DESALINATION TECHNOLOGY
Sec. 111.131. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
(1) "Boards" means the board of regents of the
University of Houston System and the board of regents of The
University of Texas System.
(2) "Center" means the Texas Center for Innovative
Desalination Technology established under this subchapter.
Sec. 111.132. ESTABLISHMENT. (a) The Texas Center for
Innovative Desalination Technology is established as a partnership
between the University of Houston, The University of Texas at
Brownsville, and The University of Texas at El Paso.
(b) The organization, control, and management of the center
are vested in the boards, and the respective institutions shall
execute a memorandum of understanding for that purpose.
(c) The center shall be hosted by the University of
Houston's Cullen College of Engineering, The University of Texas at
Brownsville's College of Science, Mathematics and Technology, and
The University of Texas at El Paso's Center for Inland Desalination
Systems. Participation in the center's activities shall be open to
any faculty or staff member of each host university who is an active
researcher in the field of water desalination, engineering,
hydrology, biology, water supply development, or energy
efficiency, or in another relevant field as determined by the
boards.
Sec. 111.133. PURPOSE. The center is created to:
(1) promote interdisciplinary research, education,
and training for the development of state-of-the-art products,
materials, systems, and technologies designed for the desalination
of seawater from the Gulf of Mexico and brackish water within
surface and groundwater resources throughout the state; and
(2) develop cost-effective, energy-efficient, and
environmentally sound water desalination, brine disposal, and
water conveyance technologies that can enhance the potential for
desalinated water to contribute toward the state's long-term water
portfolio.
Sec. 111.134. POWERS AND DUTIES. The center shall:
(1) collaborate with appropriate international,
federal, state, and local agencies and private business or
nonprofit entities as necessary to develop innovative desalination
technologies;
(2) research and develop innovative seawater and
brackish water desalination technologies, including pretreatment
technologies and improvements, that are energy efficient and cost
effective, minimize environmental impacts, and offer long-term
water supply solutions for the state;
(3) research and develop brine disposal and reuse
methods and technologies;
(4) research and develop water conveyance systems and
technologies that may be used to transport desalinated water to
target use populations;
(5) develop test facilities for evaluating the
performance of new products, materials, or techniques;
(6) develop specifications and standards for products
used for desalinating water, conveying water, and disposing of
brine;
(7) provide public information, education, and
outreach regarding desalination technologies and appropriate uses
and conservation methods for desalinated water; and
(8) provide data, recommendations, and any other
information necessary relating to desalination for local,
regional, or statewide water planning programs and processes.
Sec. 111.135. COLLABORATION WITH OTHER ENTITIES. The
University of Houston, The University of Texas at Brownsville, and
The University of Texas at El Paso shall encourage public and
private entities to participate in or support the operation of the
center and may enter into an agreement with any public or private
entity for that purpose. An agreement may allow the center to
provide information, services, or other assistance to an entity in
exchange for the entity's participation or support.
Sec. 111.136. GIFTS AND GRANTS. The boards may solicit,
accept, and administer gifts and grants from any public or private
source for the purposes of the center.
Sec. 111.137. PERSONNEL. The boards may employ personnel
for the center as necessary.
Sec. 111.138. EXPIRATION. This subchapter expires
September 1, 2023.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect on the 91st day after the last day of the
legislative session.