The Nueces River Authority is pushing forward with its ambitious plan to build a 450-million-gallon-per-day desalination plant on Harbor Island, with the initial phase set to deliver 100 million gallons per day before scaling up over time.
Executive Director John Byrum revealed that discussions are already underway with potential buyers for the plant’s water output, with hopes they will commit to a water reservation fee.
“We had our first meeting the other day in Atascosa County. The meeting went very well, and that is the first of many,” Byrum said.
In parallel, the River Authority is working with consultants to select a company that will partner on this billion-dollar-plus infrastructure project.
“To build a plant and get water out of that area into the Interstate 37 Corridor, you’re probably looking at three or three-and-a-half billion dollars,” Byrum estimated.
While the City of Corpus Christi is developing its own inner harbor desalination plant, city leaders believe both projects can coexist.
“The city does the inner harbor to take care of you and me. The NRA and the Port of Corpus Christi do Harbor Island, which creates a new rate structure. If industry is interested in paying that, knock yourself out,” said Councilman Mark Scott.
However, Councilman Roland Barrera expressed concerns about cost differences, noting that industrial water rates in the area are significantly lower than the projected price for Harbor Island water.
“I don’t think there is a demand to buy $12 water when the cost that we sell it to industry is closer to four,” Barrera said.
Byrum remains optimistic that state lawmakers will take interest in the Harbor Island project as part of broader water infrastructure investments.
“They realize that this has to be solved this session so that the cost doesn’t continue to grow,” he said.
Byrum anticipates that the plant’s design phase will be well underway by the end of the year, with water production expected to begin by late 2028.