Desalination in the Corpus Christi Bay is a disaster waiting to happen!
Corpus Christi City Council
NOW is the time to stand up and say NO to desalination!
The cost of the City’s proposed Inner Harbor desalination facility has ballooned to at least $1.2 billion. This would make it the most expensive large-scale seawater desalination facility in the world on a cost-per-unit basis, and contractors say the price could still go as high as $1.7 billion!
At the same time, the Corpus Christi Caller Times has reported that an independent study revealed the presence of toxic PFAS – also known as “forever chemicals” – in the Inner Harbor. Despite PFAS’ known link to cancer, City management has so far refused to conduct their own analysis, or to commit to removing all PFAS from the treated drinking water or the plant’s discharge.
Nor has City management agreed to share the data backing up their claim that the Inner Harbor facility would not increase the salinity of the Corpus Christi Bay and risk an environmental catastrophe. Instead, they assert that the modeling data on which they base their claim is “intellectual property.”
What we DO know is that the Inner Harbor facility is only needed to provide water to big industry, which a City official acknowledged consumes 80% of our region’s water, but that residential and small business ratepayers will pay for it with an increase of at least 88% in our water bills. We also know that the facility, to be located in Hillcrest, will be yet another devastating blow to Corpus Christi’s historically Black neighborhood.
The Inner Harbor desalination facility is a financial, public health and environmental disaster waiting to happen. Please sign our petition below and tell the City Council to stop the Desal Disaster before it happens!
To:
Corpus Christi City Council
From:
[Your Name]
We the undersigned urge the Corpus Christi City Council to terminate the plan to build the proposed $1.2 billion Inner Harbor desalination plant.
The plant poses risks to public health and the ecology of the Corpus Christi Bay, will have a devasting impact residents of the Hillcrest neighborhood, and will result in huge increases in water bills for local residents and small businesses, all in order to provide more water to big industry.
At a minimum, the City Council should direct City staff to conduct an analysis of the Inner Harbor to determine PFAS levels in the water and develop a plan for removing all PFAS from treated drinking water and the plant’s discharge before proceeding with further planning or construction.
Our community’s water needs can be met without jeopardizing our health or environment, without hurting our neighbors, and without forcing Corpus Christians to pay higher water bills to subsidize wealthy corporations. Please take action now to stop the Desal Disaster before it happens!
