Dive Brief $1.2B Texas desalination project on hold
Construction on the Corpus Christi water treatment facility has been postponed until the conclusion of August, following the city council’s decision not to endorse a new design contract for Kiewit.
Published Aug. 5, 2025
Julie Strupp Senior Editor
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Rendering of the Corpus Christi Inner Harbor desalination plant. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Water Listen to the article 3 min This audio is auto-generated. Please let us know if you have feedback. Dive Brief:
- Corpus Christi, Texas, city council members decided last week to halt all progress on a $1.189 billion desalination plant until August 26th, when they intend to reassess the situation, as reported by KRIS 6 News. This decision follows an extensive discussion regarding the Inner Harbor Seawater Desalination Treatment Plant’s escalating costs and alternative water source possibilities.
- In October 2024, the city selected Westlake, Texas-based Kiewit Infrastructure South Co. to engineer and construct the municipality’s inaugural seawater desalination facility, intended to provide a drought-resistant water supply for its expanding populace. At that time, the estimated cost was $750 million.
- According to the agenda for July 29th, the city council was scheduled to vote on a $50 million contract amendment that would have permitted Kiewit to advance the project’s design work from a 10% completion level to 60%. However, multiple council members expressed a desire for additional deliberation time. A letter obtained by 3NEWS indicates that Kiewit cautioned that the postponement could result in increased expenditures and an extended project schedule.
Dive Insight:
As reported by KRIS 6 News, four council members dispatched a letter to the Texas Water Development Board inquiring whether state funding allocated for the Inner Harbor site could be reallocated to different water initiatives should the city ultimately abandon the project. The correspondence also sought clarification on loan reimbursement terms and the availability of further grant funding.
During the July 29th session, council member Eric Cantu proposed a motion to suspend the project for 30 days, allowing the state time to provide a response. This pause occurs amidst mounting pressure to investigate alternatives to the project, despite the city having already invested nearly $100 million to date, according to KRIS 6 News. If the plant proceeds as planned, its operational launch is slated for 2028.
Desalination is gaining traction as water scarcity intensifies, yet it remains a less common treatment method. Purifying saltwater for potable use is comparatively expensive and demands substantial energy. Furthermore, the process impacts the environment during both water intake and brine discharge, as detailed by E&E News.
Nevertheless, augmenting the city’s water reserves is a critical concern. Corpus Christi is presently under Stage 3 drought conditions, necessitating significant restrictions on most outdoor water usage, as per the city’s water authority.
The state of Texas is grappling with infrastructure issues, including deteriorating pipes and outdated treatment facilities strained by diminishing water availability, rising demand, and ongoing droughts. Soon, state voters will consider a proposal that would allocate $1 billion annually for two decades to address aging water infrastructure, promote conservation, and develop new water sources.
Recommended Reading
- Kiewit beats out 2 firms for Texas desalination plant job By Julie Strupp • Oct. 15, 2024
- Texas plans $20B to mitigate looming water crisis By Matthew Thibault • May 30, 2025
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Filed Under: Infrastructure, Sustainability & Resilience