Aqualia Signs Strategic Contract with Corpus Christi to Advance Global Water Management Solutions

On April 20, 2026, Aqualia, one of the world’s leading operators in the full water cycle, signed a strategic contract with the City of Corpus Christi, Texas, to design, construct, and operate an emergency desalination plant as part of a $175 million public investment program aimed at strengthening the city’s water security amid unprecedented drought conditions.

The project involves the deployment of a modular reverse osmosis desalination plant that will be operational in less than one year, responding to historically low reservoir levels that have dropped to just 7.8% of capacity due to the ongoing drought affecting the region.

Aqualia will also manage the operation and maintenance of the facility for the first five years following its commissioning, reinforcing its presence in the North American market through its Texas-based operating platform, Municipal District Services (MDS).

The initiative forms part of a broader strategy to diversify and strengthen regional water supply by treating brackish water from the city’s western well field, with the treated water to be delivered directly to the O.N. Stevens Water Treatment Plant (ONSWTP), thereby reducing reliance on surface water sources and minimizing evaporation losses.

The desalination plant is expected to begin operations at an initial capacity of 3.91 million gallons per day by the eleventh month, scaling up to a full capacity of 21.3 million gallons per day by the second year, according to project projections outlined in municipal approvals.

In addition to the treatment plant, the $175 million investment includes up to $11.5 million for ancillary improvements at the ONSWTP facility and up to $120 million for the construction of water pipelines, storage tanks, effluent discharge systems, and pump station infrastructure from the Western Well Field.

Local officials emphasized the urgency of the project, citing historically low levels in Lake Corpus Christi and Choke Canyon Reservoir as key drivers behind the need for immediate supplemental water supply solutions.

Nicholas Winkelmann, Chief Operating Officer of Corpus Christi Water, described the initiative as an innovative approach to expanding water supply in an expedited manner, aligning with the city’s long-term resilience goals.

Aqualia’s leadership highlighted the company’s decades of experience in high-stress water environments, stating that the contract reaffirms its position as a global leader in engineering, large-scale water treatment, and sustainable water management practices.

The project underscores growing international investment in climate-resilient water infrastructure, particularly in regions facing intensified drought cycles due to changing environmental conditions.