City of Corpus Christi officials are set to again formally explore the possibility of desalination operations near the Barney Davis Power Plant site — an initiative staff said could potential generate as much as 50 million gallons per day to 100 million gallons per day.
City Council members on March 17 showed support for official collaboration with CPS Energy — a municipally owned, San Antonio-based electricity provider — to come up with proposals for desalination development on the property.
It would be a longer-term project, several council members have said.
CPS is interested in a proposed desalination plant operated through a public-private partnership, said Nick Winkelmann, interim chief operating officer of Corpus Christi Water.
The idea would be that CPS would either sell or lease land south of the power plant, said City Manager Peter Zanoni.
He noted that there are wetlands that could potentially restrict some development.
A new discharge permit would also be needed, officials said.
A structure for intake may be used but, like an existing permit, may require modification, Zanoni said.
CPS would not provide discounted energy; that would need to come from another provider, according to staff.
There are some advantages to the location, Zanoni said, including its proximity to both the gulf and a city distribution system on the Southside.
In part, the council’s endorsement gives the green light for the study of hydraulics and water distribution, Winkelmann said.
A presentation shown to the council last year quoted early estimations of as much as 100 million gallons of water per day being produced “with new permit, larger pipeline and brine outfall to the Gulf.”
The proposal to use the site for desalination has come up intermittently for years.
Barney Davis “should have always been … a piece of our portfolio,” said Mayor Paulette Guajardo.
“It’s never too late to start,” she said. “So this is another milestone for us.”
Kirsten Crow covers city government and water news. Have a story idea? Contact her at kirsten.crow@caller.com.
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This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Corpus Christi to explore Barney Davis desalination site
Reporting by Kirsten Crow, Corpus Christi Caller Times / Corpus Christi Caller Times
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