CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Editor's Note: This story has been updated to reflect the new total cost of the project, which is now at $757 million.
The Corpus Christi City Council voted Tuesday to move forward with a desalination plant and apply for permits, grants and loans for a facility at the Inner Harbor site.
Under the plan approved Tuesday, the desalination plant would also treat 30 million gallons of water per day. Prior plans had only called for treating 20 million gallons of water per day.
The 6-2 vote approving seven items relating to the desalination plant came after hours of discussion and a failed attempt at delaying the vote.
Council Members Jim Klein and Sylvia Campos voted against the project. Council Member Gil Hernandez abstained.
"I voted against all of them," Klein said. "I don't think desalination is right for our city. I'm not convinced that the environmental consequences have been fully examined yet."
All other council members voted for the now $757 million project.
City Council also signed off on issuing $211 million in bonds, which come as low-interest SWIFT loans from the state.
"This builds resiliency, having a second stand alone plant to the one and only water treatment plant. We are a regional water provider, we have a huge responsibility to provide safe drinking water to the region so this helps us advance that cause," said Chief operating officer for Corpus Christi Water.
City manager Peter Zanoni said a lot of science and study has been done over the last decade leading up to the vote.
"It is all indications from all experts the least expensive and the least impact to the environment, this is unique that it's a drought proof source."
"With today's vote the next step would be that we could start being very efficient in beginning the design of the plant and that way once the draft permit turns into a permanent permit we're already moving forward and not wasting time," said Mayor Paulette Guajardo.
"We are going to take the next step to developing additional water resources and drought-proof water resources so we don't have to depend on how much rain we're getting or not getting," added Council Member Mike Pusley.
Ahead of the vote, City Council heard hours of public comment -- a lot of that in opposition.
"Bay water desalination is not a good solution to our area's water needs," said Patricia Jones, who spoke before Council.
Others asked for them to better educate the public about desal.
"You have about 200 people in here with all set opinions and you have 300,000 people out there that you think they know everything about it but they don't," said Shawn Flanagan. "Inform us, show us the options, and then show us while you're choosing the right path forward."
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