The partnership includes Mathis, Alice and Corpus Christi. Beeville entered Stage 4 water restrictions after declaring a water emergency in October.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — The city of Beeville has joined neighboring communities as part of a new regional water alliance, teaming up to share resources and confront ongoing drought conditions.

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The partnership includes Mathis, Alice and Corpus Christi. Beeville entered Stage 4 water restrictions after declaring a water emergency in October.

Beeville Mayor Pro Tem Benny Puente Jr. says the new partnership gives smaller South Texas cities key advantages — including the ability to lean on larger entities like Corpus Christi. As water supplies continue to shrink, he says collaboration is becoming essential.

“They’re going to be able to help us with second, third opinions like that. Maybe some EPA-type of things if we ever need stuff like that from their environmental team,” he said.

Puente says the partnership isn’t only about infrastructure. For him, it represents a shift in how smaller communities are valued. After years of feeling overlooked, he says this alliance feels different.

“As a city leader for the last 10 years, I felt like Corpus has kind of left us behind, and with this alliance, in my opinion, I feel like they’re putting us under their wing and saying, ‘Enough is enough — we’re going to take care of y’all,’” he said.

While Beeville is grateful to have a seat at the table, city leaders say they’re not sitting idle. Puente says Beeville is making steady progress on its own projects, including its desalination water-well effort.

“We should have water flowing into our distribution system by February. Beeville’s going to have a safe, secure drinking water established for our community,” he said.

Newly appointed Beeville City Manager Andy Joslin says projects and partnerships like these help secure the area’s long-term future.

“With us addressing the water issues, we’re going to work hard on economic development to ensure we attract businesses and future residents to the area,” he said.