Seawater Desalination Projects in the 2012 SWP

In the 2012 State Water Plan, three regional water planning groups (H, L, and M) recommended seawater desalination as one of the water management strategies that would produce 125,514 acre-feet per year of new water supplies by 2060. The 2012 State Water Plan projects that the strategy would represent 1.4% of all the new supplies in the state.

Additionally, regional water planning group N considered seawater desalination as an alternative strategy in the 2012 State Water Plan. If implemented, this alternative strategy would produce 28,000 acre-feet per year of new water supplies by 2060.

Region Project Category 2010 2020 2030 2040 2050 2060
H Freeport Recommended --- --- --- --- 33,600 33,600
L San Antonio Water System Recommended --- --- --- --- --- 84,012
M Brownsville Recommended --- --- --- 5,600 5,600 7,013
M Laguna Vista and Laguna Madre Recommended 125 125 143 449 821 889
N Corpus Christi Alternative --- --- --- 28,000 28,000 28,000

Source: All information derived from 2011 approved regional water plans and Brownsville Large-Scale Seawater Desalination Pilot Plant Study, 2008 (Region M)

Brackish Groundwater Desalination Projects in the 2012 SWP

In the 2012 State Water Plan, five regional water planning groups (E, F, L, M, and O) brackish groundwater desalination as one of the water management strategies that would produce 181,568 acre-feet per year of new water supplies by 2060. The 2012 State Water Plan projects that the strategy would represent 2% of all the new supplies in the state.

Region Project Category 2010 2020 2030 2040 2050 2060
E Horizon Regional MUD Recommended 0 1,607 3,304 4,764 6,245 7,726
E El Paso Recommended 0 0 0 0 10,000 20,000
F Andrews Recommended 0 950 950 950 950 950
F San Angelo Recommended 0 0 0 5,600 5,600 5,600
F CRMWD Recommended 0 0 0 9,500 9,500 9,500
F County Other Recommended 2,004 2,004 2,004 2,004 2,004 2,004
L Crystal Clear WSC Recommended 0 0 596 596 3,184 3,184
L Green Valley SUD Recommended 0 0 3,000 3,000 6,012 6,012
L SS WSC Recommended 0 0 0 1,120 1,120 1,120
L San Antonio Recommended 0 12,000 21,000 26,400 26,400 26,400
L Schertz Recommended 0 2,000 2,000 2,000 2,000 2,000
L Springs Hill WSC Recommended 0 0 0 0 0 1,500
M Alamo Recommended 0 83 288 469 882 1,304
M Brownsville Recommended 12,117 12,320 12,323 12,327 20,731 21,032
M Combes Recommended 0 293 293 293 293 293
M Donna Recommended 0 50 50 50 50 50
M Eagle Pass Recommended 0 390 390 390 402 771
M East Rio Hondo WSC Recommended 100 100 100 100 177 906
M Elsa Recommended 0 100 100 100 100 100
M Harlingen Recommended 0 50 50 50 611 1,948
M Indian Lake Recommended 34 43 52 62 70 80
M La Feria Recommended 0 180 180 180 180 180
M La Joya Recommended 50 50 100 120 120 120
M Laguna Madre Water District Recommended 200 200 800 2,000 3,000 4,000
M Laredo Recommended 1,120 5,600 5,600 10,100 10,100 10,100
M Los Fresnos Recommended 1,915 1,915 2,121 2,389 2,655 2,912
M McAllen Recommended 3,360 3,360 6,139 6,600 8,121 8,821
M Mercedes Recommended 560 560 560 560 560 560
M Mission Recommended 560 560 560 560 560 560
M North Alamo WSC Recommended 0 22,402 22,402 22,402 22,402 22,402
M Port Isabel Recommended 944 1,045 1,149 1,249 1,357 1,463
M Primera Recommended 51 70 95 111 124 113
M Raymondville Recommended 0 100 100 100 100 100
M Rio Grande City Recommended 560 1,120 1,120 1,123 1,314 1,498
M San Perlita Recommended 25 25 25 25 25 25
M Valley MUD #2 Recommended 1054 1,322 1,323 1,323 1,323 1,323
M Weslaco Recommended 100 100 100 100 250 350
M County Other Recommended 11,201 11,201 11,201 11,201 11,201 11,201
O Lubbock Recommended 0 3,360 3,360 3,360 3,360 3,360

Source: All information derived from 2011 approved regional water plans