Corpus Christi has started construction on a $108-MM reclaimed water pipeline project that will add 11 million gallons per day of non-potable water capacity for industrial users while reducing demand on the South Texas city’s freshwater supplies.
Corpus Christi has started construction on a $108-MM reclaimed water pipeline project that will add 11 million gallons per day (mgd) of non-potable water capacity for industrial users while reducing demand on the South Texas city’s freshwater supplies.
Construction on the Reclaimed Water for Industrial Reuse Project began Aug. 17 and is expected to be completed by June 30, 2027. The project includes improvements at the Oso Water Reclamation Plant and installation of a reclaimed water transmission main connecting the Oso facility with the Greenwood Wastewater Treatment Plant. A new pump station and wet well at the Oso plant are also planned.
Corpus Christi City Council approved the construction phase in June through an emergency contracting process, awarding a $107.5-MM contract to Houston-based Reytec Construction Resources. The transmission corridor will be constructed in four pipeline segments, allowing multiple crews to work simultaneously. The work follows an earlier design contract of up to $11 MM awarded to Ardurra Group.
Once operational, the project will increase Corpus Christi’s total non-potable reuse capacity to approximately 16 mgd. The reclaimed water will primarily serve major industrial users, providing an alternative to potable supplies as the city works to diversify its water resources. Corpus Christi already has a recycled water agreement with Valero’s local refinery and has used treated effluent for applications such as park and golf course irrigation for decades.
The project is advancing as prolonged drought, population growth and industrial demand continue to put pressure on water supplies across the Coastal Bend. While rainfall in July pushed the city’s projected timeline for reaching a Level 1 water emergency from as early as September 2026 to around fall 2028, Corpus Christi continues to pursue reclaimed water and other supply strategies to improve long-term water resilience.