PUB to seek federal funding for desalination plant

With expected support from the Southmost Regional Water Authority and the Brownsville Navigation District, the Brownsville Public Utilities Board voted Monday to seek $40 million in federal funds to pursue a regional Brownsville Seawater Desalination Plant.

"The money hasn't been tapped," PUB CEO John Bruciak told the board of the availability of public funding under the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) via the Texas Environmental Infrastructure Program as authorized by the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers.

A resolution to TWDB that the PUB approved notes that the plant, to be located at the Port of Brownsville, would potentially serve southeast Cameron County, the city, the port, Los Fresnos, Valley M.U.D. No. 2 in Rancho Viejo and Indian Lake. The plant would produce up to 25 million gallons of potable water per day.

However, the grant funds require a 25 percent local match.

PUB and interested entities could combine financial and in-kind resources to raise the local matching share for land, planning, design, construction and management services for the project, the resolution reflects.

The resolution further notes that loans could also be obtained from the Texas Water Development Board to assist in funding the project.

The board also gave Bruciak authority to spend up to $25,000 for required engineering and consulting work to coordinate inter-local agreements among regional entities and the required statement of interest to the Texas Water Development Board by April 25.

This attempt follows the pilot desalination project at the Brownsville Ship Channel, which has been running for roughly a year.

According to PUB's Web site, a request for a $70 million grant and a $45 million low-interest loan has been made to the Legislature.