South Texas Water Authority / Seven Seas Brackish Water Reverse Osmosis Project
Driscoll, Texas – Groundbreaking Held July 8, 2025
The following information provides a neutral overview of the South Texas Water Authority (STWA) and Seven Seas Water Group Brackish Water Reverse Osmosis (RO) Project, as publicly documented in the Draft 2026 Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) Coastal Bend Regional Water Plan and related public records.
Project Overview
Project Name: South Texas Water Authority / Seven Seas Brackish Water Reverse Osmosis Project
Location: West of Driscoll, Texas, along FM 665
Groundbreaking Date: July 8, 2025
Announced By: Seven Seas Water Group (press release, July 2025)
Source: Seven Seas Water Group Press Release – “Breaking Ground on STWA Project”
Planning Context: Listed in the Draft 2026 TWDB Coastal Bend Regional Water Plan (Region N) as a proposed water supply strategy utilizing brackish groundwater desalination.
Project Description
The STWA/Seven Seas project is designed to produce brackish groundwater treated through reverse osmosis (RO) technology to supplement regional water supplies.
Public documents indicate the project’s:
Initial capacity: ~4 million gallons per day (MGD)
Potential expansion capacity: Up to 28 MGD, pending future agreements and permitting
Treatment method: Brackish groundwater reverse osmosis
About Seven Seas Water Group
Seven Seas Water Group is a Water-as-a-Service® (WaaS®) provider specializing in desalination and wastewater treatment.
The company designs, builds, owns, and operates (BOO/BOOT) water treatment systems for municipal, industrial, and commercial clients.
Company Background
Founded: 1997
Headquarters: Tampa, Florida
Additional Offices: Houston, Texas; Caribbean; Latin America
Ownership: Acquired by EQT Infrastructure, a global investment firm (formerly owned by Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners)
Business Model: Build–Own–Operate (BOO) / Build–Own–Operate–Transfer (BOOT)
The company finances, constructs, and manages facilities, and clients pay only for delivered water rather than upfront capital.
Reference:
Seven Seas Water Group – Official Company Overview
EQT Infrastructure Press Release – Acquisition Announcement (2021)
Core Capabilities
According to company materials and public infrastructure documentation:
Desalination Operations: More than 200 facilities worldwide, including coastal and brackish water reverse osmosis plants.
Wastewater Treatment: Decentralized and industrial wastewater treatment systems across the U.S., Caribbean, and Latin America.
Reference: Seven Seas Water Group – Services Overview
Notable Projects
A summary of key desalination and water treatment projects developed by Seven Seas Water Group, including facilities in Texas, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Caribbean. These examples highlight the company’s experience with large-scale reverse osmosis (RO) systems and public–private partnership (BOOT/BOO) project models used worldwide.
Community Context
Seven Seas Water Group has previously proposed desalination-related projects in Texas, including brine disposal plans near Baffin Bay, which received public comment and community feedback during earlier environmental review processes.
That project is separate from the STWA Brackish Water RO Project near Driscoll.
The current project uses brackish groundwater desalination, located inland, rather than direct coastal seawater intake or discharge.
References:
Corpus Christi Caller-Times, “Residents voice concerns over Baffin Bay desalination plans” (2021)
[TCEQ Public Comment Archives – Baffin Bay Desalination Application, 2021–2022]
Regional Planning and Oversight
The South Texas Water Authority / Seven Seas Project is one of several proposed groundwater supply projects referenced in the Draft 2026 Coastal Bend Regional Water Plan (Region N).
Projects included in the plan undergo multi-agency review coordinated by:
The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB), under the Regional Water Planning Program;
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), responsible for environmental permitting and compliance; and
Applicable Groundwater Conservation Districts (GCDs) or proposed districts, depending on project location and jurisdiction.
References:
Texas Water Development Board – 2026 Coastal Bend (Region N) Draft Water Plan
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality – Water Supply Permitting Overview
Summary
The South Texas Water Authority / Seven Seas Brackish Water RO Project represents a proposed public–private partnership intended to provide an additional treated water source through brackish groundwater desalination.
All related planning documents, environmental permits, and data are reviewed under Texas’ established framework for regional water planning, TCEQ permitting, and local groundwater management, as outlined in Chapter 36 of the Texas Water Code.
This post is provided for public informational purposes only and does not imply endorsement, opposition, or evaluation of the project by any regulatory or planning entity.
