Corpus Christi targets late April for $978M Inner Harbor desalination contract

Corpus Christi targets late April for $978M Inner Harbor desalination contractThe city council is pushing to execute a design-build agreement with a consortium led by Acciona and MasTec, securing a 25% cost reduction compared to previous project estimates.

City Manager Peter Zanoni confirmed the design-build contract is scheduled for council consideration on April 28, 2026.

The Corpus Christi Desal Partners (CCDP) consortium proposed a total cost of $978.7 million, down from a previous $1.3 billion estimate.

Final execution depends on a two-week review by the Texas Water Development Board to ensure compliance with SWIFT loan requirements.

If approved, an early work amendment for long-lead items is expected in December 2026, followed by a full construction contract in May 2027.

The City of Corpus Christi is moving rapidly to finalize a design-build contract for its Inner Harbor Seawater Desalination Project, with city officials targeting April 28, 2026, for council approval. During a special city council meeting on April 10 called by Mayor Paulette Guajardo to ensure project accountability and expedite the timeline, City Manager Peter Zanoni confirmed the upcoming contract milestone. The project is currently being negotiated with Corpus Christi Desal Partners (CCDP), a consortium comprising global desalination operator Acciona, infrastructure contractor MasTec, and local engineering firm Ardura. Assistant Director of Water Supply Management Esteban Ramos highlighted the financial advantages of the current negotiations. CCDP has presented a total project cost of $978.7 million. According to Ramos, this represents a 25% reduction compared to the previous developer's estimated cost of $1.3 billion. While the city and CCDP are working to finalize approximately a dozen outstanding contract items, execution on April 28 carries one major regulatory caveat. Deputy City Attorney Buck Brice noted that the contract terms must comply with State Water Implementation Fund for Texas (SWIFT) loan requirements. The Texas Water Development Board requires an estimated two-week review period to approve the final contract terms before the city can officially proceed. If the council approves the contract on April 28, Phase 1A—covering planning, design-build, and pilot procurement—will launch the following day. Brice outlined the subsequent procurement timeline, noting that the city anticipates returning to the council in December 2026 for an early work contract amendment to procure long-lead items. The final construction contract is slated for May 2027. Concurrently, the water department is advancing its far-field modeling efforts, with final meetings scheduled through late April to gather input from industrial and institutional customers. The city also plans to select an owner's representative on April 28 and will issue requests for proposals for operations and maintenance agreements shortly thereafter.