** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THE OVERALL OBJECTIVE OF THIS PROJECT IS TO DEVELOP AND TEST LOW-COST MATERIALS FOR TREATMENT OF BRACKISH WATER. GROWING WATER DEMANDS AND A CHANGING CLIMATE ARE DRIVING THE NEED TO UTILIZE NON-TRADITIONAL WATER SOURCES FOR IRRIGATION. THIS PROJECT WILL TREAT TWO MODEL BRACKISH WATERS WITH COMPOSITIONS SIMILAR TO WATERS FROM TEXAS AND CALIFORNIA. TREATMENT OF THESE WATERS FOR ANION (MAINLY CHLORIDE) REMOVAL WILL BE BY ADSORPTION TO CALCINED LAYERED DOUBLE HYDROXIDES AND BY PRECIPITATION OF CALCIUM CHLOROALUMINATE (FRIEDEL'S SALT). TREATMENT FOR CATION (MAINLY SODIUM) REMOVAL WILL BE USING CELLULOSE-BASED CATION EXCHANGE POLYMERS PREPARED FROM WHEAT STRAW AND CORN COBS. THE COST TO TREAT BRACKISH WATERS TO THE TREATMENT GOAL OF 500 MG/L TOTAL DISSOLVED SOLIDS WILL BE ESTIMATED TO EVALUATE THE FEASIBILITY OF ADOPTION. EXPANDING WATER RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR IRRIGATION BY TAPPING CURRENTLY UNDERUSED BRACKISH WATER SUPPLIES HAS THE POTENTIAL TO INCREASE THE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY OF FOOD PRODUCTION. SPECIFICALLY, THE PROPOSED WORK HAS THE POTENTIAL TO REDUCE THE DEMAND FOR FRESHWATER USE IN AGRICULTURE BY DEVELOPING INNOVATIVE TECHNIQUES FOR BRACKISH WATER TREATMENT.