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.