Corpus Christi, still in need of long-term water sources, again rejects desalination plant | National News

The Corpus Christi City Council voted 5-3 Tuesday night to reject, again, an almost billion-dollar water treatment plant after a decade of effort and its long-term water supply still in question.

The proposed desalination plant was intended to provide a drought-proof source of drinking water, but opponents questioned its high cost and the environmental impact of its salty discharge on Corpus Christi Bay.

kAm%96 G@E6 H2D 36:?8 H2E4965 3J v@G] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5:C64E@CJ]E6I2DEC:3F?6]@C8^8C68\233@EE^QmvC68 p33@EEk^2m[ H9@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]E6I2DEC:3F?6]@C8^a_ae^_b^`_^E6I2D\8@G6C?@C\8C68\233@EE\4@CAFD\49C:DE:\H2E6C\4C:D:D^Qm4C:E:4:K65 E96 r:EJ r@F?4:=k^2m 27E6C :E C6;64E65 E96 A=2?E @?6 J62C 28@[ D2J:?8 E96 DE2E6 >:89E 92G6 E@ “>:4C@>2?286” E96 4:EJ E@ AC@E64E E96 C68:@?’D H2E6C DFAA=J]k^Am

kAmq67@C6 %F6D52J’D G@E6[ p33@EE 49:67 @7 DE277 #@36CE q=24< 42==65 E96 AC@A@D65 56D2=:?2E:@? A=2?E “2 EC6>6?5@FD @AA@CEF?:EJ E@ 7:?2==J 86E 29625 @7 E96 4FCG6 2?5 36 AC@24E:G6 E@ D@=G6 E96:C =@?8\E6C> H2E6C 492==6?86D]”k^Am

kAm“(:== E96J 5@ E96 C:89E E9:?8 2?5 >@G6 7@CH2C5[ @C H:== E96J AF?E E96 7FEFC6 @7 r@CAFD r9C:DE: E@ D@>6@?6 6=D6 E@ 7:In” q=24< D2:5 😕 2 HC:EE6? DE2E6>6?E[ 255:?8 E92E E96 DE2E6 92D “5@?6 :ED A2CE” 3J AC@G:5:?8 =@2?D 2?5 @E96C 7F?5:?8] “p== E92E’D =67E 😀 4@FC286 2?5 G:D:@? 7C@> E96 r:EJ r@F?4:=]”k^Am

kAmp 7:G6\J62C 5C@F89E 925 AFD965 r@CAFD r9C:DE: E@ E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]E6I2DEC:3F?6]@C8^a_ae^_d^ah^E6I2D\4@CAFD\49C:DE:\H2E6C\4C:D:D\76H\@AE:@?D^Qm3C:?< @7 2 H2E6C 6>6C86?4Jk^2m =2DE DAC:?8 H96? AC@;64E:@?D D9@H65 E96 4:EJ H2D >@?E9D 2H2J 7C@> 56>2?5 @FEA24:?8 :ED DFAA=J[ 2 A@:?E E92E H@F=5 C6BF:C6 4FDE@>6CD E@ 4FE H2E6C FD6 3J adT]k^Am

kAm#646?E C2:?[ :?4=F5:?8 DF>>6C 7=@@5D 😕 E96 w:== r@F?ECJ[ 92D 3@@DE65 E96 4:EJ’D C6D6CG@:CD 7C@> 2 4@>3:?65 `dT 42A24:EJ D:I >@?E9D 28@ E@ cgT 4FCC6?E=J — 2==@H:?8 r@CAFD r9C:DE: E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^DE286`]4@CAFD49C:DE:EI]8@G^Qm=@@D6? C6DEC:4E:@?Dk^2m @? H2E6C:?8 =2H?D 2?5 H2D9:?8 G69:4=6D]k^Am

kAmtG6? D@[ AC@;64E:@?D D9@H E96 4:EJ @? 4@FCD6 7@C 2 H2E6C 6>6C86?4J 😕 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]E6I2DEC:3F?6]@C8^a_ae^_f^af^4@CAFD\49C:DE:\H2E6C\E6I2D\7=@@5H2E6C\6>6C86?4J^Qm72== a_agk^2m]k^Am

kAm%96 56D2=:?2E:@? A=2?E 4@F=5 92G6 368F? @A6C2E:?8 😕 a_b_]k^Am

kAm%96 4:EJ H2E6C 56A2CE>6?E 925 2=C625J D64FC65 4@?EC24E@CD E@ 368:? 3F:=5:?8 E96 A=2?E] xE’D 7F==J A6C>:EE65[ 23@FE e_T 56D:8?65[ 2?5 H@F=5 36 3F:=E 2=@?8 E96 32J 😕 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^:?D:564=:>2E6?6HD]@C8^?6HD^_c_fa_a`^4@CAFD\49C:DE:\E6I2D\9:89H2J\:?7C2DECF4EFC6\;FDE:46^Qmw:==4C6DEk^2m[ 2 9:DE@C:42==J q=24< ?6:893@C9@@5] xE H@F=5 92G6 366? 42A23=6 @7 AC@5F4:?8 23@FE b_ >:==:@? 82==@?D 2 52J[ C@F89=J >@C6 E92? 2 E9:C5 @7 E96 4:EJ’D 52:=J 56>2?5[ 2?5 4@F=5 36 6IA2?565 E@ EC62E g_ >:==:@? 82==@?D 2 52J]k^Am

kAm%96 AC@;64E’D “AC6=:>:?2CJ 8F2C2?E665 >2I:>F> AC:46” H2D Shfg]g >:==:@?[ 23@FE adT 4962A6C E92? AC6G:@FD 6DE:>2E6D[ 3FE :E H2D?’E 6?@F89 E@ 4@?G6CE @AA@?6?ED]k^Am

kAm%96 4:EJ 😕 a_`f C646:G65 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E6I2DH2E6C?6HDC@@>]@C8^AC6DDC6=62D6D^a_`f\_f\a_04@CAFD]9E>=QmSa]fd >:==:@?k^2m =@2? 7C@> E96 DE2E6 7@C E96 AC@;64E’D AC6=:>:?2CJ DE286D] %96 DE2E6 AC@G:565 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^D6?2E6]E6I2D]8@G^AC6DD]A9An:5la_\a_a__fab2QmSaaa >:==:@?k^2m 😕 =@2?D E9C66 J62CD =2E6C[ E96? 28C665 E@ =@2? E96 4:EJ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]<:::EG]4@>^2CE:4=6^?6HD^=@42=^E6I2D\H2E6C\56G6=@A>6?E\3@2C5\C6DA@?5D\E@\4:EJ\4@F?4:=\C6BF6DE\4:EJ\4@F?4:=>6>36CD\C6DA@?5^d_b\47g63a64\2477\c7`b\364_\h_`7dhdd6df6Qm>@C6 E92? 92=7 2 3:==:@? 5@==2CDk^2m 😕 255:E:@?[ @7 H9:49 S`_ >:==:@? 92D 366? 5:D3FCD65]k^Am

kAmr@F?4:= |6>36C v:= w6C?2?56K D2:5 96 92D 4@?D:DE6?E=J G@E65 282:?DE E96 A=2?E 3642FD6 @7 :ED 4@DE[ =@42E:@? 2?5 A@E6?E:2= 7@C 6?G:C@?>6?E2= 92C>]k^Am

kAm“x H2?E E@ D2J E92E x 2> 7@C H2E6C[ x’> ?@E 282:?DE D62H2E6C 56D2=[” w6C?2?56K D2:5] “x ;FDE 5@?’E =:<6 E9:D A2CE:4F=2C AC@;64E[ 2?5 x’G6 366? 4@?D:DE6?E H:E9 E9:D D:?46 a_a_]”k^Am

kAmr@F?4:= |6>36C r2C@=J? ‘2F89? 649@65 E96 D6?E:>6?Ei “x H2?E 56D2=[ 3FE x H2?E :E 😕 E96 C:89E A=246] x H2?E :E E@ 36 D276 7@C @FC 32J[ 7@C @FC 6?G:C@?>6?E[ 2?5 x H2?E E96 4@DE E@ 36 8@@5[ 2?5 x H2?E :E 5:D492C865 😕 E96 @462?]”k^Am

kAmq67@C6 %F6D52J’D G@E6[ E96 4@F?4:= 962C5 2 AC6D6?E2E:@? 23@FE 2 D6A2C2E6 56D2=:?2E:@? AC@A@D2= — E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^?F646D\C2]@C8^HA\4@?E6?E^FA=@25D^a_ad^“^w2C3@C\xD=2?5\$E2E6\p=:8?>6?E]A57Qmw2C3@C xD=2?5 s6D2=:?2E:@? !C@;64Ek^2m — 3J y@9? qJCF>[ 6I64FE:G6 5:C64E@C @7 E96 }F646D #:G6C pFE9@C:EJ]k^Am

kAm%96 AC@;64E[ H9:49 ?665D @?6 >@C6 A6C>:E 367@C6 4@?DECF4E:@? 42? DE2CE[ 2:>D E@ D6CG6 >F=E:A=6 4:E:6D 😕 E96 r@2DE2= q6?5 H:E9 23@FE `__ >:==:@? 82==@?D 2 52J]k^Am

kAmx? ~4E@36C[ r@CAFD r9C:DE: A2:5 Sa]f >:==:@? E@ C6D6CG6 23@FE d_ >:==:@? 82==@?D 2 52J 7C@> E96 2=E6C?2E:G6 A=2?E 27E6C :E 4@>6D @?=:?6] pE =62DE @?6 4@F?4:= >6>36C[ z2J=J?? !2ID@?[ D2:5 D96 72G@CD E96 w2C3@C xD=2?5 AC@;64E]k^Am

kAms@==J %C@==6J[ 6I64FE:G6 5:C64E@C @7 ‘@:46D 7@C r@2DE2= q6?5 t?6C8J 2?5 2 DFAA@CE6C @7 E96 A=2?E[ E@=5 E96 r:EJ r@F?4:= E92E 5@K6?D @7 H6==D 5C:==65 3J E96 4:EJ[ 2?5 E96 DF556? DFC86 @7 AF>A:?8 😕 }F646D r@F?EJ[ 92D CFC2= C6D:56?ED 4@?46C?65]k^Am

kAm“%96J’C6 =@D:?8 72:E9 😕 FD 😕 36:?8 8@@5 ?6:893@CD[” %C@==6J D2:5] “%96J D66 FD C6=J:?8 2 =@E @? @FC 8C@F?5H2E6C AC@;64ED[ 2?5 E96J 5@?’E D66 FD … 5@:?8 2 =@E @7 7@CH2C5 A=2??:?8 2?5 C6=J:?8 @? @FC @H? =@?8\E6C> DFDE2:?23=6 AC@;64ED]”k^Am

kAmr@F?4:= |6>36C tG6C6EE #@J F?56CDE@@5 E92E E96 A=2?E H@F=5 36 6IA6?D:G6 3FE D2:5 E96 4:EJ ?665D E@ E2<6 5C2DE:4 >62DFC6D]k^Am

kAm“xE 😀 2 3:8 C:D<[ 2?5 x’G6 2=H2JD DE2E65 E92E x 324< H2E6C[” 96 D2:5] “x’> ?@E 8@:?8 E@ D:E E96C6 2?5 x’> ?@E 8@:?8 E@ EFC? H2E6C 5@H?] p?5 D@[ 7@C E92E[ x DFAA@CE E9:D AC@;64E] p?5 9@A67F==J[ H6 42? 86E E9C@F89 E9:D[ H96E96C :E’D H:E9 E9:D 4@F?4:= @C E96 ?6IE]”k^Am

kAmp== ?:?6 r:EJ r@F?4:= D62ED[ :?4=F5:?8 E96 >2J@C[ 2C6 FA 7@C 6=64E:@? 😕 }@G6>36C[ 2?5 5632E6 @G6C E96 4:EJ\@H?65 56D2=:?2E:@? A=2?E 92D 6>6C865 2D 2 =625:?8 42>A2:8? :DDF6]k^Am

kAm%H@ 4@F?4:= >6>36CD H9@ G@E65 E@ 6?5 E96 56D2=:?2E:@? AC@;64E %F6D52J 2C6 492==6?8:?8 |2J@C !2F=6EE6 vF2;2C5@[ 2 AC@\56D2=:?2E:@? A=2?E G@E6] x? 255:E:@?[ EH@ 4@F?4:= >6>36CD H9@ G@E65 @? @AA@D:E6 D:56D @7 E96 :DDF6 2C6 ?@E D66<:?8 C66=64E:@?]k^Am

kAm~7 E96 C6>2:?:?8 E9C66 CF??:?8 7@C 2?@E96C E6C>[ EH@ @AA@D65 E96 A=2?E 2?5 @?6 72G@C65 :E] p== 4@F?4:= >6>36CD G@E65 E96 D2>6 H2J E96J 5:5 2 J62C 28@]k^Am

kAmvF2;2C5@ H2D ?@E 2E r:EJ w2== @? %F6D52J 3642FD6 E96 4@F?4:= k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]^?6HD^=@42=\?6HD^:?\J@FC\?6:893@C9@@5^4@CAFD\49C:DE:^4@CAFD\49C:DE:\>2J@C\DFDA6?565\b_\52JD\27E6C\4:EJ\4@F?4:=\7:?5D\96C\8F:=EJ\@?\E9C66\492C86DQmDFDA6?565 96C 7@C b_ 52JDk^2m @G6C 244FD2E:@?D D96 4@>>:EE65 A6C;FCJ C682C5:?8 2? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]E6I2DEC:3F?6]@C8^a_ae^_b^ac^E6I2D\4@CAFD\49C:DE:\>2J@C\C6>@G2=\4:EJ\4@F?4:=\G@E6^Qm@?8@:?8 EC:2= E@ :>A6249 96Ck^2m] p==682E:@?D E92E =65 E@ E96 EC:2= 2C6 C6=2E65 E@ 2 Sa >:==:@? E2I :?46?E:G6 28C66>6?E 😕 a_ac H:E9 2 9@E6=:6C]k^Am

kAm~AA@?6?ED @7 E96 AC@;64E @? %F6D52J 6IAC6DD65 4@?46C? 23@FE :ED :>A24E @? r@CAFD r9C:DE: q2J[ H:E9 >2?J 5@F3E:?8 E96 C6=:23:=:EJ @7 2? 6?G:C@?>6?E2= DEF5J E92E 4@?4=F565 E96 A=2?E’D D2=EJ 5:D492C86 H@F=5 ?@E 27764E >2C:?6 =:76]k^Am

kAm~E96C @AA@?6?ED D2:5 @:= C67:?6C:6D[ A6EC@496>:42= A=2?ED 2?5 @E96C =2C86 :?5FDEC:2= FD6CD — ?@E C6D:56?ED — D9@F=5 362C E96 3FC56? @7 7F?5:?8 ?6H H2E6C D@FC46D]k^Am

kAm“%92E’D :?4C65:3=J 324@? p=6I[ 4@\492:C @7 E96 4:EJ’D s6>@4C2E:4 $@4:2=:DE @7 p>6C:42 492AE6C[ E@=5 E96 r:EJ r@F?4:=] “~FC 64@?@>J D9@F=5 AC@G:56 7@C 9F>2? ?665D] wF>2? 36:?8D D9@F=5 ?@E 36 @C82?:K65 2C@F?5 E96 ?665D @7 2? 64@?@>J 3F:=E @? 6?5=6DD :?5FDEC:2= 6IA2?D:@?]”k^Am

kAmxD236= pC2:K2[ 4@\7@F?56C @7 u@C E96 vC62E6C v@@5[ H9:49 @AA@D6D E96 56D2=:?2E:@? A=2?E[ D2:5 r@2DE2= q6?5 C6D:56?ED 2?5 =@42= 3FD:?6DD6D 5@?’E H2?E :E]k^Am

kAm“w62GJ :?5FDECJ 2?5 E9@D6 H9@ H2?E :?5FDEC:2= 3F:=5@FE H2?E E96D6 AC@;64ED] {@42= 4@>A2?:6D E92E DE2?5 E@ >2<6 2 <:==:?8 @77 @7 AF3=:4 E2I 5@==2CD H2?E E96D6 AC@;64ED[” D96 D2:5]k^Am

kAmr@CAFD r9C:DE: 😀 F?56C AC6DDFC6 E@ 7:?5 =@?8\E6C> D@=FE:@?D E@ :ED 4:EJ’D H2E6C H@6D] !6CCJ u@H=6C[ 6I64FE:G6 5:C64E@C @7 E96 %6I2D (2E6C x?7C2DECF4EFC6 }6EH@C<[ 2 EC256 2DD@4:2E:@? 7@C H2E6C 4@?DECF4E:@? 3FD:?6DD6D[ D6?E 2 =6EE6C =2DE H66< :>A=@C:?8 E96 r:EJ r@F?4:= E@ >@G6 E96 AC@;64E 7@CH2C5]k^Am

kAm“!FEE:?8 4:E:K6?D 7:CDE >62?D >2<:?8 564:D:@?D E@52J E92E C65F46 E96 =:<6=:9@@5 E92E 7FEFC6 C6D:56?ED H:== @?46 282:? 7246 6>6C86?4J C6DEC:4E:@?D[ 64@?@>:4 F?46CE2:?EJ[ 2?5 2 D4C2>3=6 7@C ?6H DFAA=J 3642FD6 =@?8\E6C> 24E:@? H2D 5676CC65 H96? 4@?5:E:@?D E6>A@C2C:=J :>AC@G65[” 96 HC@E6] “(2E6C :?7C2DECF4EFC6 >FDE 36 A=2??65 😕 564256D[ ?@E 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 =6G6= @7 E96 C6D6CG@:CD @? 2?J A2CE:4F=2C 52J]”k^Am

kAmu@H=6C D2:5 E96 4:EJ’D 564:D:@?D H:== 92G6 =2C86 C:AA=6 67764ED]k^Am

kAmr@CAFD r9C:DE: 😀 9@>6 E@ 2 3FDJ A@CE 2?5 @?6 @7 E96 ?2E:@?’D =2C86DE :?5FDEC:2= 4@CC:5@CD[ :?4=F5:?8 4CF56 @:= C67:?6C:6D DF49 2D ‘2=6C@ #67:?:?8 2?5 u=:?E w:==D #6D@FC46D] %@86E96C[ C@F89=J a_ =2C86 :?5FDEC:2= 4@>A2?:6D >2<6 FA 2C@F?5 e_T @7 E96 4:EJ’D H2E6C 56>2?5[ =@42= @77:4:2=D D2J]k^Am

kAm“#6=:23=6 H2E6C :?7C2DECF4EFC6 😀 DEC2E68:4 :?7C2DECF4EFC6[” u@H=6C HC@E6]k^Am

k9C ^m

kAm%9:D DE@CJ H2D @C:8:?2==J AF3=:D965 3J k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]E6I2DEC:3F?6]@C8^Qm%96 %6I2D %C:3F?6k^2m 2?5 5:DEC:3FE65 E9C@F89 2 A2CE?6CD9:A H:E9 %96 pDD@4:2E65 !C6DD]k^Am