High Rolls Mountain Park Elementary Third Graders Get Hands-On Lesson in Water Innovation at Alamogordo’s Brackish Ground

ALAMOGORDO, N.M. — A group of excited third graders from High Rolls Mountain Park Elementary School traded their classrooms for lab coats and safety glasses recently, touring the world-class Brackish Groundwater National Desalination Research Facility (BGNDRF) right here in Alamogordo.

The students learned firsthand how brackish (salty) groundwater is transformed into clean, usable water through advanced desalination technology — a process that plays a vital role in securing reliable water supplies for communities across the arid Southwest.

“High Rolls Mountain Park Elementary students learned all about how our water is purified and the important process that helps make it safe for our community to use every day,” said organizers of the field trip. “Students enjoyed seeing the equipment up close, asking great questions, and discovering how science and technology work together to provide clean water. It was a fun and educational experience that helped bring their learning to life!”

Located at 500 La Velle Road in Alamogordo, the BGNDRF is the nation’s only major federal research facility dedicated exclusively to the desalination of brackish and impaired groundwater. Operated by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, the 43-acre site opened on August 16, 2007, and serves as a hub for cutting-edge research and collaboration.

Scientists, engineers, universities, private companies, and government agencies partner at the facility to develop cost-effective technologies focused on:

• Brackish groundwater desalination

• Renewable energy integration

• Concentrate (wastewater) management

• Small-scale systems for rural and Tribal communities

• Treatment of produced water from oil and gas operations

The facility draws from four on-site brackish groundwater wells and houses pilot-scale testing areas where new desalination methods are developed and refined. Its work is especially critical in New Mexico, where drought and limited freshwater resources make innovative water purification essential for long-term sustainability.

Recent investments, including $12.6 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law announced in 2023, are enhancing the facility’s capabilities to support even more research and community-focused solutions.

Facility staff led the young visitors through interactive stations, demonstrating real-world equipment and answering a barrage of curious questions from the students. The tour aligned perfectly with elementary science standards, showing how chemistry, engineering, and environmental science combine to solve real problems.

“Thank you to the staff at the plant for taking the time to teach our students and give them such a memorable tour!” the school shared.

The visit is part of the BGNDRF’s ongoing commitment to public education and outreach. For years, the facility has welcomed Alamogordo Public Schools third graders, giving thousands of local students a front-row seat to the science shaping their community’s future.

High Rolls Mountain Park Elementary, a small but vibrant K-5 school nestled in the mountain community of High Rolls, continues to emphasize experiential learning opportunities like this one to spark curiosity and career interest in STEM fields.

In a region where water is life, these third graders left the facility not just with new knowledge — but with a deeper appreciation for the technology and people working every day to keep Alamogordo’s taps flowing.

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