WSP10254

• File Number: 8276.500.10
• Description: Glenwood-Dotsero Springs Unit - Salinity Control Projects- Aquatrain
• State: CO
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 4/1/1983
• Title: Aquatrain - A Joint Venture Federal Government/Colorado River Basin States/Private Industry
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Project Overview

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AQUATRAIN
Apr 11 1983

Section 3.

THE AQUATRAIN PROJOCT

The AQUATRAIN project is a
private industry,
within the framework
and regulation.

joint venture between the Federal
Work
of applicable Federal, State, and local

Government,
will be conducted
legislation

The AQUATRAIN Project proposes an underground pipeline syste. to transport
saline water, coal, and other commodities from Colorado, Wyoming, and
Utah to domestic markets in the southwest U.S. and/or export markets.

Objectives

The AQUATRAIN Project has two primary, but by no means exclusive, objectives:

1. To collect saline water in the Colorado River Basin, transport
it to points of most beneficial use, and dispose of it in the
least-cost manner.

2. To provide an economically competitive method of moving coal
and other commodities from source points to markets using a
part of the savings in commodity transport costs to pay for
the salinity control function.

An anticipated result of these combined objectives is to m1n1m1ze the
cost of energy from new coal-fired electric utility powerplants by providing
low-cost delivery of superior grade coal and/or coal products and making
saline water available for powerplant cooling purposes. This will:
(a) reduce the use of gas and imported oil for firing powerplants and
conserve it for other more beneficial uses, and (b) reduce the use of
freshwater for powerplant cooling.

As currently envisioned, the majority of AQUATRAIN construction costs
would be borne by private industry through commodity transport revenues.
The Federal Government, with salinity control funds, would pay a negotiated
share for operation and maintenance.

New opportunities for pipeline use and technology development are rapidly
emerging as AQUATRAIN progresses.

AQUATRAIN Technology

The most promising operating system under consideration for AQUATRAIN
is a liquid carbon dioxide (C02) coa1 slurry technique. Arthur D. Little,
Inc., and W. R. Grace & Co., have been working for more than two years
on development and commercialization of a patented liquid co2/coal slurry
transportation technology. A pilot plant complete with a 2-1nch-diameter
pipeline loop (see figure 1) is operating and data collected are being

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