An Assessment of Options for the Future of Brockton’s Desalination Facility


Sponsors
North East Water Innovation Network (NEWIN)
Team
Alexander Gaines, Amanda Rodriguez, Carla Romo, Michael Kane
Year
2017
Keywords
Environment, Water, Sustainability, Well-Being, Infrastructure

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Project Abstract
The City of Brockton started using desalination as a water source 9 years ago. However, the facility is underused due to Brockton’s limited budget and availability of an alternate source. This project’s goal was to develop options for Brockton to leverage the Taunton River Desalination Facility (TRDF). We conducted interviews with city officials and desalination experts, and reviewed materials about uses for desalination and the facility. We found that city officials have a positive attitude about the TRDF, and by law, Brockton is mandated to have a secondary water source. We identified complex opportunities and challenges associated with three options for Brockton to consider: renew existing contract, end contract and connect to an alternative water source, or purchase facility.