The Nueces River Authority is pressing forward with plans to secure water reservation commitments from municipalities across South Texas for water sourced from a potential Harbor Island desalination plant. This ambitious project could be crucial in addressing the region’s growing water demands. However, several critical steps remain before water distribution becomes a reality, including securing permits, funding, and municipal commitments.
Water Reservation Commitments and Municipal Participation
Interested municipalities must pay a reservation fee to participate in the project. However, the river authority must determine if it will have water to distribute. The organization is working closely with the Port of Corpus Christi, which is securing state and federal permits for the planned desalination facility. The river authority must also obtain a lease from the port to operate the plant and acquire state funding to expand the facility.
During a recent Corpus Christi City Council workshop on water resources, Nueces River Authority Executive Director John Byrum expressed the project’s urgency, stating, “Failure is not an option. We’ve got to get this built.”
Permitting Challenges and Proposed Facility Expansion
The Port of Corpus Christi currently holds a discharge permit from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) for a plant capable of producing 50 million gallons of water daily, with discharge into the Corpus Christi Ship Channel. However, this permit is under appeal in a Travis County court.
In response to increasing regional water demands, the port has shifted focus toward a larger facility that would discharge into the Gulf of Mexico. This shift addresses environmental concerns of desalination opponents, who worry that discharging into the ship channel could harm marine life and disrupt the bay’s ecology.
The port has already submitted a permit application to intake 100 million gallons of water daily from the Gulf of Mexico. It plans to file another by the end of the month for offshore discharge, which would be located 1.8 miles off San Jose Island. Both permits require TCEQ approval and authorization from the Texas General Land Office and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for construction on submerged state lands.
Who Will Own and Operate the Plant?
While the Port of Corpus Christi is leading the permitting process, it does not intend to own or operate the desalination facility. Instead, the city of Corpus Christi or a third-party entity would take on that role. The Nueces River Authority has submitted an unsolicited proposal requesting the port to assign its permits to them upon approval. The agency hopes to collaborate with a private company to design and build the desalination plant.
The river authority has a history of involvement in major water projects, including the Choke Canyon Reservoir and the Mary Rhodes Pipeline, which have significantly contributed to regional water security.
Water Pricing and Financial Projections
The Nueces River Authority seeks municipal partners willing to sign water reservation contracts at an initial rate of $0.075 per thousand gallons to gauge interest and demand. The agency expects desalinated water to cost $12 per thousand gallons, though the final pricing remains undetermined.
The estimated cost to build the desalination plant and pipelines is $3.5 billion. While the initial permits would allow the facility to produce 100 million gallons of water daily, the river authority envisions expanding output to 450 million gallons per day within a few years.
State Funding and Legislative Approval
The river authority is working with state lawmakers to secure additional funding to facilitate expansion. Any state financial support must be approved by the Texas Legislature, which is in session until June 2. If funding is granted, the Texas Water Development Board will likely oversee its allocation.
Despite the many bureaucratic hurdles, Byrum remains optimistic that the desalination plant will be operational by 2029. “We’re wanting to move this thing along as fast as possible,” he emphasized.
Corpus Christi’s Role in the Project
Corpus Christi has not ruled out Harbor Island as a potential site for its desalination facility. City Manager Peter Zanoni stated that officials may seek the first right of refusal on the site and potential water purchases.
During the city council workshop, Councilwoman Carolyn Vaughn inquired whether the port would offer the city priority access to desalinated water. Port CEO Kent Britton responded that any such arrangement would require formal contractual agreements.
“If Nueces River Authority, for example, wants to sell water within the city’s service area, they’d have to sell it to the city,” Britton explained. “We’re going to continue to have those discussions.”
Conclusion
The proposed Harbor Island desalination plant represents a significant step toward addressing South Texas’ growing water needs. However, the project must overcome regulatory hurdles, secure funding, and gain municipal commitments before it becomes a reality. If successful, the Nueces River Authority’s ambitious plan could provide a long-term solution for the region’s water security, with the first phase of operations potentially launching by 2029.