Project Spotlight: Harbor Island Seawater Desalination Facility
Meet the Harbor Island Seawater Desalination Facility Project!
The Harbor Island Seawater Desalination Facility project became a FAST-41 Covered Project early in the Trump administration and just six months later, completed the federal permitting process two months ahead of schedule.
Located near Port Aransas, Texas, the Harbor Island Seawater Desalination Facility project will use the latest technology to
add a sustainable and resilient water supply to a region currently experiencing a severe drought. Planned in a location that was carefully evaluated to mitigate environmental impacts, the facility will provide up to 100 million gallons per day of drinkable water to residents on the Gulf coast of Texas.
Upon the project’s early completion, Permitting Council Executive Director, Emily Domenech spoke to the efficiency of the FAST-41 process, “This project demonstrates the capability of the FAST-41 program to advance key infrastructure projects benefiting communities in the Gulf of America and across the nation.”
The project sponsor, Port of Corpus Christi Authority, credited the FAST-41 program with improving the project’s overall success by establishing a coordinated project plan that ensured consistency and accountability throughout the permitting process. As they were able to work in close coordination with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Harbor Island Seawater Desalination Facility project authorization was received in 190 days. To compare, the current average the project sponsor sees to receive an individual permit authorization is 1,100 days.
“The Port of Corpus Christi is incredibly grateful to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council for their efforts to issue a permit for the proposed Harbor Island Desalination Facility Project ahead of schedule while upholding opportunities for public input,” said Kent Britton, Chief Executive Officer for the Port of Corpus Christi. “When completed, the facility is expected to provide up to 100 million gallons of drought-proof, potable water per day for use by a wide array of offtakes, including Coastal Bend residents.”
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers served as the lead agency for this project’s federal permitting and cooperating agencies with actions on the Dashboard included the Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), and Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Construction on the Harbor Island Seawater Desalination Facility project is expected to start in 2027 and it is anticipated to be fully operational in 2029.
Last Updated: Wednesday, June 3, 2026