Corpus Christi’s water shortage threatens billions in investment, city leaders say

City leaders said the Coastal Bend’s water crisis is now costing billions in investment as major companies look elsewhere to build.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Corpus Christi’s water crisis is no longer just about drought restrictions or conservation, city leaders have said it is now threatening the region’s economic future and is costing the Coastal Bend billions of dollars in lost investment.

Major companies that once showed interest in building in Corpus Christi are now putting projects on hold or walking away because the city cannot guarantee a long term water supply. City officials said the economic impact is enormous.

Corpus Christi City Councilman Roland Barrera said the city has already missed out on massive projects tied to industries that require large volumes of water.

“I have heard numbers as high as $20 billion,” Barrera said.

Many of the successful projects secured by the Corpus Christi Regional Economic Development Corporation were landed before 2020 when the city still had excess water capacity to offer new industry.

That advantage has largely disappeared said the councilman. Barrera said one example involved interest from Google, which explored building operations in the region but required about three million gallons of water per day.

“That’s the type of project we’re talking about,” said Barrera.

To try to boost supply, the city has drilled new wells along the Nueces River. Even with those wells, officials said it may not be enough to meet long term demand.

Some projections show local reservoirs could approach critically low levels as soon as next year if drought conditions continue. City leaders are also pushing forward with plans to build a seawater desalination plant, which could provide a more reliable water source in the future. However, until a long term supply is guaranteed, companies remain cautious about making large investments in the area.

Barrera said the lost opportunities are already adding up as companies are currently ready to invest – if there’s water.

“I would say it’s in the billions. It’s in the billions,” he said.

The uncertainty is affecting other potential development as well.

Corpus Christi City Councilman Mark Scott said he has personally spoken with investors considering projects worth around $100 million in recent months. However, the city’s water outlook has made those discussions more complicated.

Scott said earlier projections from the city’s water dashboard turned out to be flawed once new data was reviewed, which has added to the uncertainty surrounding future supply.

Now city leaders said they plan to take the conversation directly to residents.

Corpus Christi City Manager Peter Zanoni said the city will soon begin holding town halls to explain the situation and share updated information about the water system.

“We know that the community wants information and this is consistent with our long term practice of being very transparent,” Zanoni said.

City leaders said those public meetings will begin soon as they try to keep residents informed about the city’s water situation.

Until a long term water solution is secured, officials said Corpus Christi faces a difficult question: How much economic opportunity can the city afford to lose while it searches for more water?

Corpus Christi’s water shortage threatens billions in investment, city leaders say

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