Private proposal to desalinate deep saline aquifer draws mixed reaction; seeks $2.5M to study feasibility
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Summary
Presenters proposed a public-private plan to tap a deep, saline aquifer near the Great Salt Lake, desalinate brine to produce freshwater and minerals, and inject water back into aquifers or the lake; they asked for $2.5 million in seed funding for studies and risk assessment. Lawmakers expressed interest and caution about risks and timeline.
A group of private-sector presenters joined Senator Musselman to propose exploring deep-saline-aquifer desalination as a potential augmentation strategy for the Great Salt Lake and nearby aquifers. Dan Packer and colleagues said their concept would pump brine from a deep saline formation, desalinate it using established technologies (reverse osmosis, ion exchange and newer chemical-separation methods), deliver freshwater for injection into shallow aquifers or the lake, and sell recovered minerals to help offset costs.
Presenters described the plan as a public-private opportunity and requested $2,500,000 in seed funding for Phase 1 to compile prior studies, characterize the deep aquifer, and attract matching private capital. They said Phase 1 would help determine whether deeper drilling and desalination are technically and economically feasible, and they emphasized multiple “go/no-go” gates in the development sequence.
The team made several technical claims during the pitch: that preliminary designs could recover roughly 75% of extracted fluid as usable freshwater with about 25% concentrated brine for disposal; that recovered minerals (e.g., magnesium chloride) could be used for deicing or to form surface crusts to reduce dust emissions from exposed lakebed; and that 800 acres of exposed lakebed account for a substantial share of dust emissions. They also argued the effort could reduce economic risk from aquifer collapse and supplement other measures such as cloud seeding and conservation.
Lawmakers reacted with interest and caution. Several members praised the multi-pronged approach but asked about risks to aquitard integrity, the need to work with the Division of Natural Resources and the state engineer, and the potential for unintended consequences. Senator Winterton encouraged consideration given the health concerns linked to lakebed dust; other members emphasized rigorous university and state oversight. The presenters acknowledged uncertainty, said they planned university partnerships and said private matches were likely if the state provided initial funding to consolidate research and de-risk early-stage work.
