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Bureau of Reclamation's Brackish Groundwater National Desalination Research Facility Celebrates 10th Anniversary

Facility in Alamogordo, New Mexico, serves as a focal point for developing technologies for the desalination of brackish and impaired groundwater found in the inland states

Media Contact: Mary Carlson, 505-462-3576, MCarlson@usbr.gov
Peter Soeth, 303-445-3615, psoeth@usbr.gov

For Release: September 11, 2017

Brackish Groundwater National Desalination Research FacilityALAMOGORDO, N.M. - The Bureau of Reclamation is celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the Brackish Groundwater National Desalination Research Facility in Alamogordo, New Mexico, on Sept. 12 and 13, 2017. The BGNDRF opened on Aug. 16, 2007, and serves as a focal point for developing technologies for the desalination of brackish and impaired groundwater.

The celebration will begin on Sept. 12 at 4:30 p.m. Local and regional governmental officials will join Reclamation in celebrating 10 years of desalination research at the facility. In addition, former and current research clients, as well as the public will reflect on significant accomplishments made over the past decade at BGNDRF.

A series of lectures by experts from NASA, Department of Agriculture and the University of New Mexico will take place on Sept. 13 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Topics will include water reuse in space, issues associated with emerging contaminants in wastewater effluent and a national perspective on brackish groundwater desalination.

On Sept. 13 from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m., the facility will host FIRST Lego League and FIRST Robotics members from the region. They will participate in an educational event related to this year's water-focused competition theme. Reclamation, U.S. Air Force, NASA, and U.S. Department of Agriculture staff will be giving presentations regarding water and its importance to each agency.

The BGNDRF sits on 43-acres in Alamogordo, New Mexico. The research facility brings together researchers from federal government agencies, universities, the private sector, research organizations, and state and local agencies to work collaboratively and in partnership on cost-effective advancements of desalination technologies.

To learn more about the facility or the event, please visit its webpage at https://www.usbr.gov/research/bgndrf/.

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The Bureau of Reclamation is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior and is the nation's largest wholesale water supplier and second largest producer of hydroelectric power. Our facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation opportunities, and environmental benefits. Visit our website at https://www.usbr.gov and follow us on Twitter @USBR; Facebook @bureau.of.reclamation; LinkedIn @Bureau of Reclamation; Instagram @bureau_of_reclamation; and YouTube @reclamation.