WSP08226

• File Number: 8276.500
• Description: Glenwood-Dotsero Springs Unit - Salinity Control Projects
• State: CO
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 12/1/1985
• Title: Preliminary Assessment of the Salt Tolerant Emergent Plant ‎(STEP)‎ Process for the Beneficial Use and Disposal of Saline Water -- EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Project Overview

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This report presents a preli.inary assess.ent of the Salt Tolerant
Emergent Plant (STEP) process for the beneficial use and disposal of
Glenwood Springs saline water. Biological, natural resource, and
economic aspects of the process are addressed by International
Bio-Resources. Inc. (IBR). Engineering aspects. including
preliminary conceptual engineering design and the initial costing of
the process and its components. are addressed by the Denver
Engineering Corporation (DEC).

The purpose of this study was to review the concept for technical and
economic flaws that could prevent it from successful development. It
is intended as an initial overview. based on a first-round literature
search and solicited professional opinions.

THE STEP CONCEPT\L

The STEP process is a pollution control technology. It is designed
to collect, make beneficial use of. and dispose of Glenwood Springs
saline outflows through the .anaged production of salt tolerant
plants having low water-use efficiency. Evapotranspiration of water
produces a more concentrated saline solution. generating a brine
suitable for further concentrating and disposal. Concurrently, plant
biomass is produced that is suitable as a livestock feed. as well as
a feedstock for chemicals and materials .anufacture.

As illustrated in Figure 1. the heat. salts, carbon dioxide, and
water from Glenwood Springs flows are collected and transported
through an insulated pipeline to a site suitable for production of
salt tolerant reeds or marsh grasses. These plants function through
the process of evapotranspiration to concentrate salts at costs equal
to or better than mechanical systems. The production of plant
biomass makes beneficial use of the water supply. yielding marketable
crops and feedstocks. Concentrated brines resulting from this
process are collected. transported. and deposited at appropriate
sites for storage.

Access to Glenwood Springs water resources is prOVided so that other
beneficial uses can be made along the course of the transmission
pipeline. Tap-offs, located at selected points along the pipeline.
are installed to serve independent business operations with
geothermal heat, carbon dioxide. and/or salt water resources. Use
rights are envisioned as allocated to these resources. on the
condition that all saline water return flows are injected into a
return pipeline; as such, these operations are considered as
beneficial use loops to the main saline water use and disposal
process line. Opportunities are thus made available to the wide
assortment of industries and technologies that can put these
resources to productive use but that cannot otherwise utilize the
entire resource load.

\L This Concept is Proprietary to IBR

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