Israeli Water Company IDE to Help Build Texas Desalination Plant

Israeli water technology company IDE Technologies announced a new partnership this week to help build a major desalination facility in Texas, marking another expansion of Israeli water expertise into the United States.

IDE and US Desalination said they formed a joint venture called RGV-Desal, LLC to develop a privately funded marine desalination facility expected to produce 50 million gallons of fresh water per day for the Rio Grande Valley in South Texas. Local reports estimated the project’s cost at around $1 billion.

The announcement highlights growing American interest in Israeli desalination technology as parts of the United States face increasing water shortages and pressure on existing infrastructure. The Rio Grande Valley relies heavily on Rio Grande River allocations and groundwater resources, both of which have faced growing strain in recent years.

According to the companies, the facility will draw seawater from the Gulf of Mexico and use reverse osmosis technology to produce potable water for public utilities and industrial customers across the region.

Local Texas reports said the project is expected to be built on South Padre Island near Brownsville. Rio Grande Valley Business Journal also reported that developers secured land tied to the project and are exploring plans to connect the facility into a broader regional water grid network.

Sean Strawbridge, chairman of the board of US Desalination, described the partnership as a major step for the region’s water infrastructure. “The formation of RGV-Desal is a defining moment for water infrastructure in South Texas,” Strawbridge said.

He added that the partnership with IDE would bring a “proven, privately funded solution” capable of supplying reliable long-term water access for both public utilities and industrial users across the Rio Grande Valley.

IDE Technologies is considered one of Israel’s leading desalination and water-treatment companies and has participated in large-scale projects in Israel, the United States, Asia, and Latin America. Israel itself became a global desalination leader after developing advanced water infrastructure to overcome chronic water shortages and drought conditions.

“IDE Technologies is proud to partner with US Desalination to bring world-class desalination infrastructure to the Rio Grande Valley,” Lihy Teuerstein, CEO of IDE Technologies said .

She added that the facility would use IDE’s “proven technology and operational expertise” to provide a sustainable and reliable water supply for communities and industries in South Texas.

The companies said the project remains in the development stage and that future agreements are expected with regional utilities and industrial customers.