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Council directs staff to pursue San Patricio water rights as regional desalination debate continues
Summary
The Corpus Christi City Council directed staff to prepare terms to buy San Patricio County water rights and heard competing presentations on desalination and other alternatives, while residents urged caution on cost and environmental risk.
The Corpus Christi City Council voted to direct staff to prepare a term sheet to purchase water rights covering roughly 22,788 acres in San Patricio County, a step council members said is intended to add near‑term capacity while the city evaluates longer projects.
Councilmember Roland Hernandez moved the direction after staff described an initial upper limit of $7,437 per acre — a package that would total roughly $169.5 million before appraisal and appropriation. City staff told the council the acquisition would likely be funded with revenue bonds and that officials will seek state and federal grants and SWIFT loan assistance to reduce rate impacts on water customers.
That vote came amid a…
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