Here's what commissioners decided on the city of Corpus Christi's desalination permit.

State officials have blessed the first of two permits that would clear a path for development of a desalination plant off La Quinta Channel – a move welcomed by proponents of the project and condemned by opponents.

Approved Thursday at a meeting of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, the finalized permit allows for the diversion of as much as 166 million gallons of water per day from La Quinta Channel as part of the proposed plant’s operations.

Under city officials’ plans, it would generate about 40 million gallons of treated water per day.

Proponents have said additional water supply is critical to the region’s commercial and population growth, and that seawater desalination is the most efficient method to meeting an increasing demand.

Supporters have also cited a historic and continued threat of drought conditions faced in the region. As of Friday morning, the combined capacities of two of Corpus Christi’s primary water sources were at 29.4%, what is considered Stage 2 drought.

In a message to the Caller-Times, Mayor Paulette Guajardo described the permit award as “another milestone that is critical for the people of Corpus Christi, our economy, and for generations to come.”

“The single most important project for the future of Corpus Christi is building a drought-proof water supply,” she wrote. “The awarding of this permit allows us to have options and continue to protect our water supply. It also allows the city to continue to move forward in providing a world class delivery method, to safeguard our environment, and protect the ratepayer.”

Critics have argued that the strategy is intended to primarily benefit heavy industrial activity.

Environmental matters have been among the most contentious – opponents raising concerns about potential impacts, and supporters asserting proper studies and measures planned for mitigation.

Patrick Nye, president of Ingleside on the Bay Coastal Watch Association, wrote in a message late Thursday to the Caller-Times that he wasn’t surprised by TCEQ’s decision, but that he was “saddened by the lives this decision could impact.”

The group had appealed to commissioners to either deny the permit or send it to a contested case hearing.

In denying those requests, board members cited among their reasons as the permit being for water rights, not discharge – if it had been for a discharge permit, some said, they may have viewed some of the requests differently.

The city’s requested discharge permit for the La Quinta Channel location is under technical review state regulators.

The organization will continue fighting desalination plants proposed for La Quinta Channel as they “threaten fisheries, birding and very essence of our Coastal way of life,” Nye wrote in his message.

Located in San Patricio County, La Quinta Channel is one of two sites selected by Corpus Christi city officials for construction of a desalination plant. The other is the Inner Harbor.

Each site requires two state permits for its desalination processes — a water rights permit and a discharge permit — which are considered separately for approval by the regulatory agency.

City officials are further in the process for the Inner Harbor site, which is planned to produce as much as 30 million gallons of treated water per day when operating at its full capacity.

State officials approved in October 2022 a water rights permit for the site.

A draft water discharge permit for the Inner Harbor site is slated to go to a public meeting in about three weeks. It is scheduled for 7 p.m. April 18 at the American Bank Convention Center, 1901 N. Shoreline Blvd.

If ultimately approved, the permit would allow for discharging as much as 34.3 million gallons of water treatment waste each day into the Inner Harbor ship channel, and in a following phase, an increase that would cap at 51.5 million gallons.

It was anticipated city officials would visit the Houston Water System this week, and on Friday, issue a request for qualifications for a contractor to design and build the proposed Inner Harbor desalination plant, according to a presentation given before the City Council on Tuesday.

Other dates of anticipated next steps, as shown in the presentation, include discussion on the city’s drought contingency and water conservation plan in late April and in June, a site visit of a seawater desalination plant in Carlsbad, Calif.

More: A draft desalination discharge permit is headed for a public meeting. Here are the details

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More: TCEQ issues permit to Corpus Christi for proposed Inner Harbor seawater desalination plant

This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: State decides on City of Corpus Christi's desalination permit