Texas Water Development Board approves $222,475,000 to the City of Corpus Christi (Nueces County) for a seawater desalination plant

For immediate release. Contact: Media Relations at 512-463-5129

AUSTIN – (July 23, 2020) – The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) today approved by resolution financial assistance in the amount of a $222,475,000 loan from the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas (SWIFT) program* to the City of Corpus Christi (Nueces County). The City will use the assistance to finance planning, acquisition, design, and construction costs associated with a seawater desalination plant.

The City could save approximately $1,200,000 over the life of the 2020 portion of the loan commitment by using the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas.

With the assistance approved today, the City will complete permitting for two future seawater desalination plants in addition to site acquisition, design, and construction for one of those plants, the Inner Harbor Ship Channel Seawater Desalination Plant. The Inner Harbor Ship Channel Seawater Desalination Plant will have an initial capacity of 20 million gallons per day with the option to expand to 30 million gallons per day in the future. The plant will be designed to produce potable water and will be fully integrated into the City’s regional water system to help meet the increasing water demands of its customers.

The TWDB is the state agency charged with collecting and disseminating water-related data, assisting with regional planning, and preparing the state water plan for the development of the state’s water resources. The TWDB administers cost-effective financial assistance programs for the construction of water supply, wastewater treatment, flood control, and agricultural water conservation projects.

*The SWIFT program includes two funds, the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas (SWIFT) and the State Water Implementation Revenue Fund for Texas (SWIRFT). Revenue bonds for the program are issued through SWIRFT.