Reservation fees are nonrefundable but the payoff could be priceless.
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — A major desalination project that could reshape the future of water in South Texas is taking another step forward.
The Nueces River Authority is moving into the design and planning phase for a massive desalination plant on Harbor Island, just off Port Aransas. It’s a multibillion-dollar project that would convert seawater into drinking water and it’s already drawing major interest from cities across the Coastal Bend.
According to Executive Director John Byrum, the plant is being designed to produce up to 100 million gallons of drinking water a day. Nearly all of that capacity has already been reserved with the City of Corpus Christi locking in 50 million gallons. In total, 16 communities have signed on, paying non-refundable reservation fees to ensure future access.
Byrum says the project is now moving from concept to design, and he’s planning to ask his board later this month for permission to start negotiating contracts for the pipeline that will carry the water inland. The Authority will also ask the state for $300 million in early 2025 to help fund construction.
If the money comes through, Byrum believes construction could start in 2027 with the first desalinated water reaching the Coastal Bend by the end of 2029.
“Several of the engineering firms have schedules that match ours,” Byrum said. “That would be December of 2029 having water to the Coastal Bend.”
Corpus Christi Councilman Gil Hernandez says that timeline might be optimistic, but he’s encouraged by the progress.
“If they don’t make it and it’s 2030, that’s OK too,” Hernandez said. “As long as they get a chance to get the water for us in the future.”
City Manager Peter Zanoni told 3NEWS the city is also developing other projects that could expand water supplies before 2029, but the Harbor Island desalination effort remains a critical part of the long-term plan.
“It’s consistent with what they’ve been saying three to five years so it’s news, and we look forward to continuing to work with the Nueces River Authority,” Zanoni said.
The Authority has already collected about $3.2 million in reservation fees to fund the early design work and will begin searching for a private partner this month to help finance and build the facility.
If everything stays on track, this could be the single largest desalination project in Texas history one that could change how South Texas gets its water for generations to come.