Council approves CMAR contract for reclaimed‑water pipeline to support industrial reuse

The City Council approved a construction‑manager‑at‑risk agreement with Raych Construction Resources to build the reclaimed‑water conveyance line that will move treated effluent for industrial reuse. Nick Wkelman, chief operating officer for Corpus Christi Water, said the line is a key step toward delivering 10–12 million gallons a day of industrial reclaimed water and will help reduce demand on potable supplies.

Council discussion emphasized schedule and environmental review. Staff said the CMAR approach allows work on multiple pipeline segments and pump stations to proceed in parallel — shortening the schedule compared with traditional design–bid–build. Raych and the city manager said construction could be staged so industrial customers can receive initial volumes sooner.

The vote follows earlier approvals to secure laboratory testing and other contracts tied to the city’s water‑supply program. City staff called the pipeline a central element of the broader plan that includes groundwater production, brackish treatment, reuse projects with industrial partners, and seawater desalination planning. Officials said they will publish technical studies and continue community outreach as permitting and construction proceed.

What’s next: CMAR will finalize segmenting and a construction schedule; staff will post water‑supply technical papers on the city site and return with updates to timeline and permitting milestones.