Corpus Christi Council Backs 25% Water Cuts as Reservoirs Sink to 8.5%
Updated
Updated · The Texas Tribune · May 12
Corpus Christi Council Backs 25% Water Cuts as Reservoirs Sink to 8.5%
8 articles · Updated · The Texas Tribune · May 12
A 7-2 City Council vote gave initial approval to a drought-emergency plan that would cut water use 25% for residents, businesses and major industrial customers, with a final adoption vote set for May 19.
City leaders expect a Level 1 water emergency by September unless heavy rain arrives soon, after Lake Corpus Christi and Choke Canyon Reservoir fell to a combined 8.5% capacity.
Residents' monthly baseline was reset to 8,000 gallons, which would drop to 6,000 in an emergency—less severe than an earlier 5,250-gallon proposal—and home car washing would still be allowed with buckets or shut-off nozzles.
Industrial and wholesale users would face 25% cuts based on a three-year average, while overuse fees could start at $4 per 1,000 gallons and rise to $8; federal and state users would be exempt from surcharges.
The plan dropped earlier proposals for misdemeanor penalties and water shutoffs for exceeding allocations, though customers could still be cited for banned practices such as landscape watering.
With industry using 60% of the water, can residential cuts alone solve a crisis decades in the making?
Can Corpus Christi's billion-dollar water projects overcome delays and opposition before its economy runs dry?
Running Dry by 2026: How Drought and Industrial Growth Pushed Corpus Christi to the Brink
Overview
Corpus Christi is on the brink of a water emergency, with critical shortages projected as early as September 2026 due to a lack of rainfall and a planned 20% reduction in water from Lake Texana. This urgent situation highlights the need for strong water curtailment measures and better management. A controversial drought surcharge exemption for major industrial users, including companies like Valero and Citgo, has sparked debate about fairness in water conservation. The crisis is driven by prolonged drought, rapid industrial growth, and delayed planning, pushing the city to urgently explore solutions like desalination and new groundwater projects to secure its future water supply.