The City of Corpus Christi has awarded a contract to Aqualia for the design, construction, and operation of a desalination plant to strengthen water supply resilience. The project forms part of a $175 million public investment program to address water shortages caused by ongoing drought conditions.
The project scope includes the development of a brackish water desalination facility at the O.N. Stevens Water Treatment Plant, along with associated infrastructure such as pipelines, storage systems, pumping stations, and discharge facilities. The plant will use reverse osmosis technology and will integrate into the city’s Western Well Field system.
Aqualia will lead the design, procurement, construction, and commissioning of the facility. The company will also operate and maintain the plant for an initial five-year period through its US division, Municipal District Services.
The project will be developed on an accelerated schedule, with initial water production expected within one year of notice to proceed. The facility will deploy modular systems in phases, starting with approximately 4 million gallons per day (MGD) capacity and scaling up to 21 MGD within 24 months.
The plant will provide a new, drought-resilient water source for the city. It will support water supply for residents and businesses by reducing dependence on reservoir levels, which have fallen below 10% capacity.