City of Corpus Christi

CORPUS CHRISTI (News Release) – At a Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) Commissioners' meeting today in Austin, the Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the City of Corpus Christi's water rights permit for a seawater desalination plant on the Inner Harbor in Corpus Christi.

This is the first water rights permit in the state of Texas that will utilize seawater for desalination for municipal use.

"We are pleased with the TCEQ's decision on this project. Building an uninterruptible water source is extremely important for the future of Corpus Christi. Our ability to grow, attract new business and create great jobs is dependent upon our ability to secure our water source," said Mayor Paulette Guajardo. "The City of Corpus Christi is the water planner and supplier for 500-thousand people across seven counties in the Coastal Bend, and we are committed to providing a water source that is drought-proof and affordable."

City Manager Peter Zanoni concurred with the mayor's assessment.   

"This is a step forward for the City's desalination project, but there is much more work to be done. Our goal remains the same: to provide the community and region with a drought-proof water source," Zanoni said.

The TCEQ received the City's water rights permit application for Inner Harbor in January 2020 and issued public notice of the application in October 2020. In March 2021, TCEQ hosted a public meeting on the water rights draft permit.

The discharge application for Inner Harbor remains in review with TCEQ

The City's other seawater desalination permit applications for water rights and discharge for a facility on the La Quinta Channel are also in review with TCEQ.

Information on the City's seawater desalination project can be found at www.desal.cctexas.com.