Texas Water Development Board approves $10,000,000 to the Laguna Madre Water District (Cameron County) for a seawater desalination plant

For immediate release. Contact: Media Relations at 512-463-5129

AUSTIN – (July 23, 2024) – The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) today approved by resolution financial assistance in the amount of $10,000,000 in financing from the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas (SWIFT)* program to the Laguna Madre Water District (Cameron County). The District will use the assistance for the planning, acquisition, and design of a seawater desalination plant.

The District could save approximately $793,000 over the life of the loan by using the SWIFT program.

With the assistance approved today, the District will complete the planning, acquisition, and design of a 5 million-gallon-per-day seawater reverse osmosis plant, a seawater intake pump station structure, and connection to the existing wastewater treatment plant outfall to meet current and future water needs.

The TWDB is the state agency charged with collecting and disseminating water-related data, assisting with regional water and flood planning, and preparing the state water and flood plans. The TWDB administers cost-effective financial assistance programs for the construction of water supply, wastewater treatment, flood mitigation, and agricultural water conservation projects.

*The SWIFT program includes two funds, the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas (SWIFT) and the State Water Implementation Revenue Fund for Texas (SWIRFT). Revenue bonds for the program are issued through SWIRFT.