In a historic move, Texas voters approved Proposition 4, authorizing the creation of a $20 billion water infrastructure fund. This funding package, one of the largest in state history, is designed to accelerate projects for:
- Water supply development
- Advanced treatment and reuse
- Desalination facilities
- Aging infrastructure upgrades
- Rural and underserved system support
This is more than a policy win, it’s a call to engineers, utilities, and technology providers to build smart, resilient, future-ready water systems. And one of the most critical pieces of that toolkit is ozone-based oxidation.
At Pinnacle Ozone Solutions, we engineer ozone systems that deliver high-efficiency, low-footprint treatment for exactly the kinds of projects this fund is poised to support.
What Projects Will This Fund Support?
The Texas Water Development Board has outlined priority areas for funding allocation:
| Project Type | Â Ozone Opportunity |
|---|---|
| Desalination (seawater, brackish) | Ozone for pre-treatment: SDI reduction, biofouling, organics |
| Indirect and direct potable reuse | Ozone for trace organics, AOP, taste/odor, virus inactivation |
| Water reuse in industry | Ozone for H2S, ammonia, metals, and biofilm control |
| Rural system upgrades | Small-footprint ozone skids for iron/manganese and disinfection |
| Treatment plant rehabilitation | Retrofit-ready ozone systems for color, DBP precursors, solids |
Why Ozone Belongs in These Projects
Ozone provides oxidation performance unmatched by conventional chemical methods like chlorine or permanganate, especially for:
- Recalcitrant organics (e.g., pharmaceuticals, PFAS precursors)
- Soluble metals (Fe2+, Mn2+)
- Hydrogen sulfide (H2S)
- Ammonia / Nitrite
- Taste and odor compounds
- Biofilm and Legionella prevention
It also supports advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) when paired with hydrogen peroxide or UV, which are required in potable reuse and high-end industrial applications.
Engineering Considerations for Texas Projects
Each category of project presents unique design needs. Here’s how Pinnacle systems are built to support them:
Modularity and Scalability
- Projects across Texas will vary from 0.5 MGD rural systems to 100+ MGD regional plants.
- Pinnacle’s QuadBlock® generator architecture allows systems to scale from <1 lb/day to 500+ lb/day ozone.
- Modular designs simplify deployment in phased construction, containerized units, or retrofitted galleries.
High Mass Transfer Efficiency
- In hot Texas conditions, ozone solubility decreases, making transfer efficiency critical.
- Our pressurized injectors and engineered contactors regularly exceed 95% gas-to-liquid transfer.
- This maximizes treatment per lb of ozone and reduces destruct load.
Disinfection and Residual-Free Operation
- In rural and small systems, disinfection without chemical storage is critical.
- Ozone offers CT-based pathogen inactivation with no chlorine residual or taste issues.
- Ideal for non-chlorinated systems or those prone to DBP violations.
Desalination and Pre-Treatment Integration
- For brackish or seawater desal projects, ozone:
- Reduces silt density index (SDI)
- Prevents biofouling of membranes
- Removes TOC and color that increase cleaning frequency
Potable Reuse
- Ozone is essential in multi-barrier reuse trains, where it:
- Oxidizes trace organics and pharmaceuticals
- Enables AOP radical formation
- Reduces GAC loading and enhances downstream filtration
Ozone is already used in flagship reuse projects like Orange County’s GWRS, Wichita Falls, and Big Spring.
System Example: Modular Ozone for a 10 MGD Reuse Facility
Design Goals:
- Remove color, taste/odor, and micropollutants
- Operate under variable flow (6–10 MGD)
- Integrate with BAC filters and UV
System Specs:
- Pinnacle QuadBlock® O₃ system (20 lb/day, expandable to 30 lb/day)
- Dissolved ozone target: 1.5–2.5 mg/L
- Pressurized contactor with 3-minute CT
- SCADA control via Modbus TCP/IP
- ORP and ozone residual feedback loops
Results:
- TOC reduced by 60–70%
- Ozone consumption ~1.3 lbs/MG
- UVT improved from 78% to 89%
- GAC run time increased by 45%
Conclusion: Texas Has the Funding, Now It’s Time to Build Smart
With $20 billion in funding now on the table, Texas is entering a generational water infrastructure upgrade cycle. This is a chance to not only meet today’s needs, but to build systems ready for:
- Drought
- Climate volatility
- Reuse and desalination
- Regulatory evolution
- Public trust in water quality
Ozone belongs in that future.
At Pinnacle Ozone Solutions, we provide the technology, engineering, and field experience to integrate ozone oxidation into systems that perform, not just on paper, but in real-world Texas water.
Technical References
- Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) – Infrastructure Initiative 2025
- USEPA (2022). Water Reuse and Advanced Oxidation Guidelines
- Langlais, Reckhow & Brink (1991). Ozone in Water Treatment: Application and Engineering
- von Gunten, U. (2003). Oxidation Chemistry of Ozone in Water
- Pinnacle Field Projects (2020–2024)
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