Lake Meredith Salinity Control Project

The salinity control project is designed to improve the quality of water in Lake Meredith by intercepting brine water that is leaking into the Canadian River near Logan, New Mexico.

Lake Meredith Salinity Control Project Headquarters

The Problem

Since beginning deliveries of water to member cities of the Authority in 1968, there has been concern about the quality of water available from Lake Meredith. While it was realized that the lake water would be somewhat mineralized, the change in water supply from groundwater was extremely objectionable to some citizens.

A generally increasing trend of chloride content (salt) has occurred, with drought cycles producing chloride contents up to 1500 mg/L in Lake Meredith. Federal Drinking Water Standards recommend maximum chloride contents in drinking water of 250 mg/L and State standards are 300 mg/L. Problems with corrosiveness and mineral deposition accompany the salty taste.

The Cause

Beginning in 1969, the Authority and other agencies have sought to identify the source of the salt water and to determine whether or not water quality in Lake Meredith could be improved. An area in New Mexico just downstream from Ute Dam near Logan was early identified as being a major contributor of saline water to the Canadian River System. Studies by the Bureau of Reclamation and consultants indicate that about 70 percent of the chlorides reaching Lake Meredith originate in this localized area, filtering into the river channel from a shallow brine aquifer which is under artesian pressure. Water in the brine aquifer is roughly as salty as seawater.

The Cure

Extraction Well in Canadian River

Obviously, Lake Meredith water quality should ultimately be improved if the contribution of saline water coming from the brine aquifer were stopped. Because salt is “stored” in the river channel sand between Lake Meredith and Logan, the extent of benefit and the time required to see improvement will depend upon climatic conditions and stream flow, even if all of the salt water inflow were stopped.

Studies indicate strongly that the salt-water flow could be controlled by drilling wells into the shallow brine artesian aquifer, and pumping from those wells to reduce the artesian pressure.

Disposing of the salt water thus produced presents the major problem and expense. Most economical would be a deep disposal or injection well similar to those used by the petroleum or other industries for salt water injection. The right kind of geological strata exists in the area at a depth of 3,000 feet. Suitability of the strata has been determined by drilling and testing. Other disposal methods appear much more expensive than injection wells at the current time.

Below is a sketch roughly showing how we plan on disposing of the brine collected from the production wells.

The Cost

The Salinity Control Project had a total price tag of $11.7 million. It consists of one deep injection well completed both vertically and horizontally. There are currently 7 shallow extraction wells. The total construction cost was $6.5 million. These numbers do not account for annual operating expenses which are around $600,000.

Who Pays?

The State of Texas funded $3 million. The Federal government funded the project investigation, design, and construction management costs through the Bureau of Reclamation, which were about $3.7million. This leaves the balance to be paid by the Canadian River Municipal Water Authority member cities. They have committed to pay up to $5 million for this project.

Now What?

The Lake Meredith Salinity Control Project was placed in operation in September of 2001, producing water from 7 shallow extraction wells and injecting at a rate of 125 gpm.

Reports and Studies

1979 Lake Meredith Salinity Study Appraisal Level Investigation Canadian River.pdf

1984 Lake Meredith Salinity Control Project Hydrology.Hydrogeology.pdf

1984 Preliminary Findings Report - Salinity Control Project.pdf

1985 Analysis of Geophysical Data to Examine the Feasibility of Deep-Well Injection of Brine.pdf

1985 Study and Analysis of Regional and Site Geology Related to Subsurface Salt Dissolutionn source of Brine Contamination.pdf

1985 Technical Report on the Lake Meredith Salinity Control Project.pdf

1992 Immediate Phase 2 Studies Salinity Control Project.pdf

1992 Salinity Sources, Ute Reservoir, NM to Lake Meredith, Tx Evaporite Dissolution Patterns and Results of Water Quality Survey.pdf

1992 Groundwater Data Lake Meredith Salinity Control Project.pdf

1992 Surface Water Data Lake Meredith Salinity Control Project.pdf

1993 Electromagnetic Delineation of Saline Water Plumes in Alluvium and Bedrock along the Canadian River.pdf