FAQs

How will the Inner Harbor seawater desalination plant impact the salinity of the bay?

The bay is a vital part of our community. The city of Corpus Christi is working extensively with biological and environmental experts to maintain the bay's salinity and preserve it for future generations. Operating at full capacity, seawater desalination could increase salinity as much as 0.3 parts per thousand (ppt).

Will the seawater desalination plant bankrupt the city?

No. The city of Corpus Christi is using a low-interest SWIFT loan and our large volume water customers (100,000+ gallons/day) have been chipping in by paying a voluntary $0.25 per 1000 gallons used for nearly two years. No tax dollars are being used to fund this project.

Who did the city consult when they started planning to build a seawater desalination plant?

The city of Corpus Christi has spent several years collaborating with and gathering vital feedback from our water customers, universities, community groups, environmental groups, regionally elected officials and large volume customers.

Why is a seawater desalination plant the best water source option for the city of Corpus Christi?

After the devastating drought in 2011, the city and area stakeholders committed to pursuing a safe, reliable, cost-effective solution to provide water for customers. 

Following reviews of alternative water supply solutions such as groundwater, water reuse and aquifer storage and recovery, seawater desalination rose to the top. Seawater desalination provides an abundant water supply that can be safely introduced into our existing distribution system and adds peace of mind; ensuring our region will be drought-resistant when we experience below-average rainfall and above-average heat waves. Environmentally, seawater desalination will take away from or displace freshwater inflows to our bays compared to what new surface water or the reuse of wastewater would. The city has secured low-interest financing for the project with a SWIFT loan estimated at $222 million. No tax dollars are being used to fund this project. 

This is how seawater desalination provides a responsible, sustainable and resiliant solution to our current and trending water demands for the entire region.

How much will it cost to build a seawater desalination plant?

If Corpus Christi City Council approves the desalination plant project, financing will be through a low-interest loan for an estimated $222 million.