Frequently asked questions

Q: Where is the project located?

A: The demonstration desalination unit and lined brine pond will be at 232 South Nevarez St., Socorro, TX, on Bodega Loya’s property. A map and construction timeline are available on our website.

Our Commitment (TCEQ Requirements):

• Facilities must submit a Notice of Intent (NOI) before operation (Part II.C).
• Evaporation ponds may only dispose of wastewater by evaporation and cannot discharge into state waters (Part II.B.2).

Q: Will the project be noisy?

A: No. Most equipment is indoors, and the pump (the loudest part) will be acoustically isolated. Noise levels at the property line will be similar to a home AC.

Our Commitment (TCEQ Requirements):

• Facilities must be designed and operated to prevent nuisance conditions, which includes noise (Part III.A.5).
• Weekly site inspections are required, with 24-hour corrective action if conditions could cause a nuisance (Part III.C.4.g–h).

Q: Will there be odors?

A: No. Reverse osmosis desalination doesn’t create odors. Treatment chemicals are stored indoors in sealed containers. The salts in the pond are not volatile — only water evaporates — and high salinity prevents odor from biological growth.

Per Essco group:

It is expected that odor from the reverse osmosis (RO) process will be minimal to none since this water is the same water that is pumped from the ground and used for irrigation to water the crops. The process includes pumping well water from an existing well through the RO process which will produce approximately 1 to 2 gallons per minute of wastewater by-product. The wastewater byproduct will be a concentrate of the wastewater with salt levels ~10-20x higher than the well. The wastewater will then be pumped into an evaporation pond where a pond aerator fountain or similar aeration devise will be used to aerate the water adding oxygen to the wastewater. By adding oxygen to the wastewater, it will help create an aerobic condition minimizing or eliminating odors and prevent the wastewater from becoming stagnant and anaerobic.

Our Commitment (TCEQ Requirements):

• Facilities must prevent nuisance odors (Part III.A.5).
• If ponds are close to homes or public spaces, a PE-certified Odor Control Plan is required (Part III.B.2.d(3)(ii)).
• During solids cleanouts, activities must be managed to prevent nuisance odors; TCEQ must be notified (Part III.C.3.b).

Q: What chemicals are being used?

A: We use the same water-treatment chemicals found in municipal systems:

• Sodium hypochlorite (bleach) — disinfection
• Citric acid — membrane cleaning
• Sodium bisulfite — chlorine neutralization

All are stored in secure, ventilated rooms with spill-prevention systems, and Safety Data Sheets (SDS) are available on site.

Our Commitment (TCEQ Requirements):

• Facilities must take measures to prevent spills and have cleanup procedures/equipment on hand (Part III.C.4.d).
• All records of chemicals, safety data, and spill procedures must be kept onsite for five years (Part III.D.1–2).

Q: Will the brine pond affect groundwater?

A: No. The pond has a certified plastic liner which prevents intrusion into the water table. It’s inspected weekly, and if a problem is ever detected, the pond must be taken out of service and repaired before reuse.

Our Commitment (TCEQ Requirements):

• Evaporation ponds must be designed to prevent discharge into water in the state (Part III.B.1.a).
• Texas-licensed professional engineers must design and certify the liner (Part III.B.1 & III.B.2.b).
• Leaks require ponds to be removed from service within 24 hours and reported to TCEQ (Part III.C.4.i; Part III.A.7).
• Ponds must be set back ≥500 ft from public wells and ≥150 ft from private wells (Part III.B.2.d).

Q: Who makes sure the project follows the rules?

A: The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) oversees the project through permits and inspections. If rules aren’t followed, they can fine us, suspend or revoke our permit, or require stricter oversight.

Our Commitment (TCEQ Requirements):

• Failure to comply with permit conditions can lead to enforcement, termination of coverage, or revocation (Part IV.1; Part IV.8).
• Any noncompliance that may endanger health, safety, or the environment must be reported to TCEQ within 24 hours (Part III.A.7).
• TCEQ may require an individual permit if stricter oversight is needed (Part II.E).

Q: How will the community be kept informed?

A: We are committed to full transparency:

• A public dashboard, available online, with weekly inspection logs and desalination system reports.
• Monthly updates at community meetings.
• Open houses to tour the facility.
• A hotline and online form for concerns, with guaranteed responses.

Our Commitment (TCEQ Requirements):

• Weekly inspections and monitoring reports must be kept onsite for five years (Part III.D).
• Quarterly water testing for pH, suspended solids, and oil & grease is required (Part III.C.1).

Q: Can the community come see the project?

A: Yes. We’ll host community days with guided tours, hands-on demonstrations, and bilingual support. The Loya family also plans to host seasonal agricultural events to share the site with neighbors.

Q: Who can I contact with questions or concerns?

A: Email: mesquite@harmonydesalting.com We respond to every message. If you prefer, you can also file complaints directly with TCEQ, which investigates all submissions.