At its regularly scheduled meeting on Feb. 17, 2026, the Corpus Christi City Council approved a contract with FCC Aqualia USA Corp. of Katy, Texas, for the design, procurement, assembly, commissioning and operation of a containerized brackish water desalination plant at the O.N. Stevens Water Treatment Plant (ONSWTP).
The $175 million project includes $43.5 million for the containerized brackish water treatment plant, up to $11.5 million for the ancillary improvements at ONSWTP, and up to $120 million for the emergency construction of water pipelines, storage tanks, effluent discharge facilitator and pump station infrastructure from the Western Well Field.
The urgency of this project stems from the severe drought conditions affecting the region. Lake Corpus Christi and Choke Canyon Reservoir have reached historically low levels, signifying the need for immediate supplemental water supply.
"This is an innovative approach to increasing our water supply in an expedited manner," said Nicholas Winkelmann, chief operating officer of Corpus Christi Water. "This project supports our strategy to diversify and strengthen the regional water supply."
The new desalination plant will treat brackish water from the city's western well field. It will deliver treated water in phases, starting at 3.91 million gal. per day (MGD) by the 11th month, and reaching full capacity of 21.3 MGD by the second year.
The groundwater conveyance infrastructure will transport water directly to ONSWTP, reducing flows to the Nueces River and limiting evaporation losses.
