Texas Desalination Association
About Texas Desalination Association
Texas Desalination Association is focused on a practical question Texas keeps having to answer: where does the water come from when drought stretches on? It works on desalination and recycling as long-term water supply options, while also helping decision-makers, the public, and industry leaders understand the policy and permitting changes those options need. If you care about water planning that looks past the next dry spell, this is the kind of group that stays on the details.
TexasDesal is unusually specific about its lane. It centers on desalination, brackish groundwater, marine water, and recycling for Texas, then backs that focus with advocacy, education, an annual conference, and a scholarship fund for desalination-related research.
Programs
The concrete work this nonprofit runs. Each program may later become a fundable project.
Advocacy
Advocates for policy and permitting changes that support desalination, brackish groundwater, marine waters, and recycling as long-term water supply options for Texas.
Education and outreach
Provides FAQs, toolkits, reports, and presentations that explain desalination technology, water supply planning, and related policy topics.
Annual conference
Hosts an annual conference with abstracts, sponsor and exhibitor opportunities, student posters, and sessions on current desalination topics.
Membership program
Offers members networking and educational opportunities, reduced conference rates, access to resources and updates, and opportunities to engage in policy and rulemaking activity.
Ed Archuleta Desalter Scholarship Fund
Supports students at accredited colleges and universities who are engaged in water resource planning or research related to brackish groundwater, produced water, or seawater desalination.
White paper project
Developed a comprehensive review of seawater desalination intake and discharge environmental impacts and best practices.
About this work
In their own words — what they do, who it reaches, and what your dollars actually fund.
Mission
The mission of TexasDesal is to encourage better use of Texas’ water resources through the development of brackish, marine and other saline waters. TexasDesal does this through advocacy and education of state and local decision makers, the public, industry leaders and other stakeholders.
Who they serve
State and local decision makers, the public, industry leaders, water utilities, municipalities, engineers, environmental scientists, students, and other desalination stakeholders in Texas.
Their impact
- Awarded the 2025 Ed Archuleta Desalter Scholarship to four doctoral students.
How your donation helps
- Ed Archuleta Desalter Scholarship Fund student awards
- The seawater desalination intake and discharge white paper project
- Scholarship fundraising and related educational activities
Our story
TexasDesal was established in 2011 in response to a multi-year drought and the strain it put on municipal, agricultural, and industrial water supplies, including water needed for oil and gas production. Since then, it has worked at the state level to educate decision-makers about desalination and recycling, and to encourage long-term water supply planning and more streamlined permitting for those options.
Events
Annual Conference
annualThe annual conference includes abstracts, sponsor and exhibitor opportunities, student posters, and sessions on current desalination topics.
Texas Desal Legislative Workshop 2026
2026-03-25A legislative workshop held in Austin on March 25, 2026.
Ed Archuleta Desalter Scholarship fundraising event and silent auction
annualA fundraising event for the scholarship fund that recognizes contributors on the website and at the annual conference.
Ways to help
Concrete needs and volunteer roles Texas Desalination Association has shared.
Current needs
- Corporate partners to help fund the white paper project
- Donations to the Ed Archuleta Desalter Scholarship Fund
- Sponsors and exhibitors for the annual conference
Volunteer opportunities
- Join the board of directors
- Serve on a board committee
Recognition & press
Awards & recognition
- Texas Desalination Pioneer Award, presented to Ed Archuleta in 2016
- Ed Archuleta Desalter Scholarship
- Best of Show Student Research Poster, 2018
Partners & funders
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about this nonprofit and how its work happens.
What kinds of water resources does TexasDesal focus on?
It focuses on brackish, marine, and other saline waters, and it also includes recycling in long-term water supply planning.
What do members receive?
Members get networking and educational opportunities, access to resources and updates, reduced conference rates, and a chance to engage in policy and rulemaking activity.
What is the Ed Archuleta Desalter Scholarship Fund?
It supports students at accredited colleges and universities who are doing water resource planning or research related to brackish groundwater, produced water, or seawater desalination.
What topics are covered at the annual conference?
Conference topics include data centers, the water-energy nexus, technology advancements, aging infrastructure, projects on the horizon, concentrate management, and student poster presentations.
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