- Corpus Christi City Council
- Moves forward in a 6-2-1 vote in the development of the Inner Harbor Desalination Facility
- Sylvia Campos and Jim Klein voted 'no', while Gil Hernandez abstained from voting at all
- During Tuesday's council meeting, residents voiced their opinions supporting or opposing the city's drought-resistant water source
On Tuesday, Corpus Christi City Council voted to move forward with the development of the Inner Harbor desalination facility. It was a 6-2 vote as council members Sylvia Campos and Jim Klein were the only two who were not in favor of the project. Gil Hernandez abstained from voting.
Water desalination has been a topic of discussion for months as many people believe it could provide more water to a region on the cusp of stage 2 water restrictions.
Those against the project voiced strong opinions that it would be an environmental disaster, that the project is only to benefit industrial businesses in the area, or that the cost will fall too much on the taxpayers. Council members with the same opinion believe the city should look at this investment more closely.
“I don’t think that the city has done their homework yet," Council member At-Large Jim Klein said. "I think we need to study this further. I don’t like the idea of discharging the brine back into the Corpus Christi Bay.”
Sylvia Campos believes the decision to move forward would only benefit big industries and not the ratepayers.
“We know desalination is for our corporations, our large water users," Campos said. "Right now, we’re about to hit stage 2 and we’re going to have to cut back but industry does not have to cut back because they pay an exemption fee.”
Through state funding of revenue bonds and other financial assistance, the city says the inner harbor desalination plant will cost about $758 million. Although there’s a large price tag, there are others who believe the development will work in the city’s favor.
During public comment, supporters of the drought-resistant water source, like Susie Saldana, tells the council, "Worry about getting us water. We need it. It’s your job to get it to the people."
Council member Mike Pusley also says it's a decision that will help future generations within the entire region.
"As our populations grow, as our industries grow, we need more and more water and this give us an opportunity to have an additional water supply for Corpus Christi and the region. Corpus Christi is the regional water supplier for 7 counties and half of a million people," Pusley said.
Within the desal conversation, the question still stands, "What will be the impact to the ratepayer?" Corpus Christi Water Chief Operating Officer, Drew Molly said there are nearly five years until ratepayers could actually see an increase in their utilities.
“We know by 2029, that’s when the full extent of the impact will be felt by our ratepayers," Molly said, "That's when the full amount of the debt that pays for this project will be implemented.”
Molly added that the city will also begin a piloting process to analyze how the desal facility will operate once it’s up and running.
“Piloting allows us to improve," Molly said, "It allows us to get better and so we’re going to use this piloting opportunity to make sure that this plant functions exactly how everybody expects it to function.”
So, what’s next? The city said they will now research the most qualified firms to begin discussing the building process of the desalination facility.
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