A looming water crisis in Corpus Christi has prompted Gov. Greg Abbott to warn the city’s leadership that the state may intervene to ensure that the city’s residents and businesses have access to water, The Texas Tribune reported. The city’s water supply could be outpaced by demand as soon as June 2027, according to one model.
“Corpus Christi is a victim not because of lack of water. They’re a victim because of a lack of ability to make a decision,” Abbott said at a press conference.
The city currently has $1 billion in water projects underway to increase supply, but many of them won’t come online until later this year or next year.
The city’s water woes stem from low reservoir levels, a long-lasting drought, and rising demand driven by an industrial boom, especially in petrochemical and energy projects near the bay. A large seawater desalination plant proposal was turned down by the city council last year after it faced fierce criticism because of its cost and potential harm to the marine ecosystem.
Corpus Christi Mayor Paulette M. Guajardo has called for a special emergency meeting to vote again on the plant proposal.