By DIANTÉ MARIGNY
editor@portisabelsouthpadre.
A proposed seawater desalination facility could help strengthen the Laguna Madre region’s long-term water supply as the Laguna Madre Water District moves forward with plans to develop an additional source of drinking water.
The project has received financing authorizations through the Texas Water Development Board, including $10 million approved in July 2024 for planning, acquisition and design, followed by approximately $64.7 million approved in July 2025 for construction.
The proposed facility is intended to reduce the region’s dependence on existing freshwater sources while preparing for future residential, commercial and industrial water demands.
According to earlier state project documents, the facility was designed to produce approximately 5 million gallons of treated water per day. A more recent statement shared by state Rep. Janie Lopez referenced an additional 10 million gallons daily, although it was not immediately clear whether that figure reflects an expansion of the original project.
Lopez highlighted the importance of investing in water infrastructure to support communities throughout South Texas.
“As your State Representative, working together with my elected officials to bring them the needed resources for water and drainage infrastructure has been priority,” Lopez said in a statement.
The Laguna Madre Water District serves communities including Port Isabel, South Padre Island and Laguna Vista, where reliable water supplies are important to residents, businesses and the region’s tourism industry.
The project is part of broader efforts to address long-term water availability in the Rio Grande Valley, where drought conditions and growing demand have increased attention on alternative water sources.
A construction timeline, updated project cost and anticipated impact on customer water rates were not provided in the statement.
Once operational, the facility would provide an additional source of treated water for the region, although its final production capacity and completion date have not been confirmed.