Over the past five years, all eyes have been on South Texas as a water crisis has been growing in the Corpus Christi area.
All residential, commercial, industrial and wholesale costumers are currently operating under the same Stage 3 restrictions and conservation requirements.
Recent rainfall has helped push the projected Level 1 Water emergency date from Sept. 2026 to Dec. 2026 and if the recent rainfall trend continues, it could push back further.
How did the crisis develop?
The crisis is driven by a historical drought across the Coastal Bend, including Corpus Christi and nearby counties. Key reservoirs that supply about 30% of the city's water, are at their lowest levels since they were filled.
- From the spokesperson: "Over the last several years, the city has faced growing water supply pressure from the prolonged drought, steady population growth, and strong industrial demand. At the same time, Corpus Christi has not added a major new water source since the early 1990s, so this drought is testing the system beyond what earlier planning anticipated."
How is the city working to solve the water crisis?
- From the spokesperson: "The city has started more than $1 billion in water projects over the past few years to diversify its supply. That includes groundwater development, water reuse, pipeline expansions, and preparations for seawater desalination. The city is also using advanced modeling to track different supply scenarios and support real-time decisions."
Are there any plans to build new water treatment plants?
The city is currently involved in multiple projects working to increase the city's water supply. Currently, the city is involved with the Harbor Island Seawater Desalination Plant, a project led by the Nueces River Authority that would provide Corpus Christi with additional desalinated water.
The city is also exploring other options to help improve the area's long-term water supply. One project, the Inner Harbor Water Treatment Campus, is almost fully approved and could produce up to 30 million gallons per day.
- From the spokesperson: "The City of Corpus Christi is actively advancing multiple water supply sources as part of its long-term strategy to secure a more sustainable and diversified water supply. These plans consist of brackish groundwater treatment and water reuse."
