Applied Water Management (AWM), a subsidiary of American Water, announced on 15 May 2009 a contract from Terrabon LLC for engineering services and the operation of the 50,000 gpd (190,000 L/d) Advanced Vapor Compression desalination pilot plant in Laredo, Texas.
This plant is expected to reduce the capital and operating costs of treating water with concentrations of dissolved solids above levels acceptable for drinking water. Engineering work is expected to begin this month, and AWM is expected to begin operating the facility by the end of 2009.