Corpus Christi advances industrial effluent reuse with $16.1m CMAR contract

Corpus Christi advances industrial effluent reuse with $16.1m CMAR contractThe city awarded Reytec Construction a contract for a 10.5-mile force main that will deliver up to 10.5 MGD of reclaimed water, partnering with Valero to offset industrial potable water reliance.

Reytec Construction Resources secured the $16.1 million CMAR contract to build a 36-inch force main from the Oso wastewater plant to the Greenwood facility.

The project will initially deliver 10 to 10.5 MGD of non-potable water, supporting an eventual 16 MGD effluent reuse target.

Industrial partner Valero is funding a $100 million second leg of the pipeline to the ship channel, which will be deeded back to the city upon completion.

The city switched the project delivery method to CMAR to accelerate the timeline by three months, targeting a mid-year completion for the next calendar year.

The Corpus Christi City Council has approved a $16.1 million Construction Manager-At-Risk (CMAR) contract with Houston-based Reytec Construction Resources for the Reclaimed Water for Industrial Use Project. The approval marks a major milestone in the city’s strategy to diversify its water portfolio and reduce the strain on its potable water system amid a severe, multi-year drought. The contract covers pre-construction services, the purchase of long-lead items, and the initiation of construction for a 10.5-mile, 36-inch force main. The pipeline will transport non-potable water from the Oso Wastewater Treatment Plant to the Greenwood facility. According to Nick Winkleman, Chief Operating Officer of Corpus Christi Water, the infrastructure will initially deliver 10 to 10.5 million gallons per day (MGD) of reclaimed water, serving as the backbone for the city's broader goal of achieving 16 MGD of effluent reuse. The municipal project is being executed in tandem with a major private investment. Industrial partner Valero is funding the construction of the second leg of the pipeline, which will run from the Greenwood facility to the local ship channel. Valero’s capital contribution is estimated at over $100 million. Once completed, the company will deed the asset over to the city. Valero is expected to utilize approximately 8 MGD of the reclaimed water, significantly offsetting its current potable water demand. Another industrial partner, Flint Hills Resources, is also advancing reuse efforts and is contracted to take 1 to 3 MGD of effluent from the Allison Wastewater Treatment Plant, potentially beginning as early as late summer. City officials emphasized the urgency of the project given the region's depleting surface water reservoirs. To accelerate the timeline, the city shifted the project's delivery method from conventional design-bid-build to CMAR, a move that Winkleman noted has already shaved three months off the schedule. The contractor plans to divide the pipeline construction into at least three concurrent segments to further expedite delivery, with completion of the line and associated pump station targeted for the middle of the next calendar year. Prior to advancing the project, the city’s design engineer, Ardura Incorporated, conducted independent environmental impact studies on the Oso and Greenwood water bodies. The research confirmed that the project will reserve minimum environmental flows and result in no adverse impacts to the local ecosystems. The reclaimed water push comes as Corpus Christi tightens its broader water management policies. During the same meeting, the council approved an ordinance establishing strict allocations and surcharges for a Level 1 Water Emergency, which would mandate a 25% curtailment for commercial, wholesale, and large volume industrial users if triggered.