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By Roberto Hugo González | Texas Border Business
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The City of McAllen is moving forward with one of its most significant infrastructure projects to date—a $300 million water desalination initiative designed to ensure long-term sustainability for the city and surrounding communities. The project, led by the McAllen Public Utility (MPU), aims to diversify water sources and strengthen the region’s resilience amid rising demand and climate challenges.
City Manager Isaac J. “Ike” Tawil announced details of the project during his presentation at the McAllen Chamber of Commerce’s Government Affairs Series. “This desalination effort was a major objective as I transitioned into the city manager’s office,” Tawil said. “We recognized early on that we needed supplemental water sources, and this project represents a critical step toward securing our future.”
The initiative comes at a time when water availability is becoming an increasingly urgent issue across Texas. Tawil explained that McAllen has already been supplementing its water supply with a few small wells that produce water pure enough to be added directly into the system. “Many people probably don’t know that we have small wells that already help supplement our water supply,” Tawil said. “That water isn’t so brackish that it requires special treatment—it can go straight into the system. We’ve been doing it for years.”
However, with a growing population and industrial expansion in the Rio Grande Valley, McAllen recognized the need for a more robust and sustainable solution. “As water became a major topic in this legislative session, we knew we needed to get ahead of it,” Tawil said. “We invested a lot of political capital in Austin, working with the Valley delegation and neighboring communities to make sure the state funded water projects at the level we needed.”
The city collaborated closely with state lawmakers, including Texas Senator Chuy Hinojosa and State Representative Terry Canales, to secure support for major water infrastructure investments. “We spent a lot of time with our elected officials in Austin, testifying before committees and ensuring that the state understood how essential this project is,” Tawil explained.
According to Tawil, the desalination facility will expand MPU’s capacity to produce and distribute water beyond city limits. “McAllen already produces excess water and supplies it to several surrounding communities,” he said. “With this project, we’ll have the ability to do that not only on an as-needed basis but continuously.”
The city’s current water network already allows for flow-through connections across multiple municipalities in Hidalgo County, a feature that Tawil described as a regional strength. “We can effectively move water from western Hidalgo County to eastern Hidalgo County,” he said. “This desalination project will make that system even stronger.”
The first phase of the project, recently approved by the City Commission and MPU Board, includes the drilling of test wells to determine capacity and quality levels. Construction is expected to begin following environmental and engineering assessments.
City leaders emphasize that water security is not just about supply but also about sustaining McAllen’s economic growth. “Power and water are going to be the keys to supporting the industrial growth this area is poised to see,” Tawil said. “We’re investing heavily in those resources to make sure we’re ready.”
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