The State of Texas faces long-term water shortages resulting from recurrent droughts and continued residential and commercial development. In the immediate term, no city is threatened more by a water shortage than Corpus Christi on the Gulf Coast.<\/p>\n
The severity of the problem is detailed<\/a> on the city\u2019s website. Even taking into account expected rainfall and the water available from reservoirs and reusable sources, a \u201cLevel 1 Emergency\u201d is projected for September this year and possibly even sooner.<\/p>\n Under its provisions, water customers could be forced to reduce their overall use by 25 per cent or face extra fees. \u00a0A Level 1 Emergency could even trigger an evacuation of residents and could also challenge major commercial operations like the Port of Corpus Christi, the nation\u2019s top port for crude oil exports, causing shutdowns and layoffs.<\/p>\n The speed at which Corpus Christi\u2019s water problem has developed coincides with the rapid development of shale oil extraction in Texas over the past 10 years, along with continued industrial expansion in the Corpus Christi area.<\/p>\n In 2017, desalination seemed to be a good solution to cope with increased water demands. Plans were presented to the city in 2019 to build the Inner Harbour desalination plant. While initially expecting to process 10 million gallons per day, it was soon recognized that more water would be required.<\/p>\n The planned capacity was expanded with estimated construction costs increasing alongside. Other questions were raised surrounding the potential ecological damage to Corpus Christi Bay caused by the desalination process.<\/p>\n By 2025, cost estimates for the Inner Harbour desalination plant had soared to $1.2 billion and its planned capacity growing to 30 million gallons per day. Council balked and shelved the project, despite plans already approved by council<\/a> in October 2024 along with the securing of permits and state funding through the Texas Water Development Board.<\/p>\n Like many, Sean Strawbridge, former CEO of the Port of Corpus Christi Authority, was upset by the apparent lack of preparation taken by the city over the years, resulting from what he said was municipal inexperience and failure to recognize the risks.<\/p>\n \u201cThis should be no surprise to anybody,\u201d Strawbridge told<\/a> Inside Climate News. \u201cWe were talking about this over a decade ago. They\u2019ve found themselves in quite a dire predicament as a result of those poor decisions. Time is up.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n There are not many options left to address the immediate crisis. However, the city says it has $1 billion funding available for water projects to address current needs.<\/p>\n Corpus Christi\u2019s city manager Peter Zanoni told<\/a> a March council meeting the city was refining its drought plan for reducing consumption. The \u201chonor system\u201d would be used to reduce water use, he said, and the city would not shut off people\u2019s water supply. In the meantime, Zanoni was optimistic the city\u2019s water supply was not near collapse and that several new water projects would be launched later in 2026.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re not running out of water. This is no time to panic.\u201d<\/p>\n Some of these new projects likely involve increased water drawn through the city\u2019s main pipeline from Lake Texana and the Colorado River to about 24 million gallons per day.<\/p>\n New wells are being drilled, or are awaiting permits, which could double or even triple that volume if they come on-stream. Another 16 million gallons of drinking water per day\u00a0could be freed if nearby industrial users switched to recycled wastewater. However, continued permit delays are causing concern.<\/p>\n Even the highest levels of the state have been frustrated by the city\u2019s failure to move ahead with desalination.<\/p>\n Gov. Greg Abbott<\/a> reportedly said the city has \u201csquandered\u201d more than $750 million in state money earmarked for the Inner Harbour desalination plant.<\/p>\n \u201cCorpus Christi is a victim not because of lack of water,\u201d Abbott said. \u201cThey\u2019re a victim because of a lack of ability to make a decision.\u201d<\/p>\n The Governor\u2019s Office even reportedly<\/a> threatened to cut all funding to Corpus Christi if it didn\u2019t proceed with the plant.<\/p>\n This has put the Inner Harbour desalination plant back on the table<\/a>. The project is now being led by Corpus Christi Desal Partners (CCDP), a joint venture composed of Acciona Agua Corporation and MasTec Industrial Corporation, along with local partners.<\/p>\n A contract finalizing 60 per cent of the project design, along with a guaranteed maximum price, is projected<\/a> to be brought before council in early June.\u201cThis is a significant step forward in securing long-term, reliable water supply for our customers,\u201d said<\/a> Nicholas Winkelmann, chief operating officer of Corpus Christi Water. \u201cWe are pleased to move forward with a highly qualified team committed to delivering this critical infrastructure project.\u201d<\/p>\n Other plants are also reportedly under consideration in the Corpus Christi area, including the Harbor Island Seawater Desalination Facility Project<\/a> led by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, to be developed by The Nueces River Authority and a private entity. It could provide up to 100 million gallons of drinking water per day through reverse osmosis.\u00a0<\/p>\n