Overview
- Gov. Greg Abbott warned the state may “take over and micromanage” Corpus Christi to keep water flowing, offering no details on how a takeover would work.
- Corpus Christi says several projects are already producing water and that new groundwater, reclaimed water and desalination initiatives will ramp up capacity over two years.
- City modeling varies, with one scenario showing supply falling below expected demand as soon as June and another signaling a Level 1 water emergency by November 2026 if drought persists.
- Prolonged drought, soaring industrial demand and depleted reservoirs are straining supplies, with Lake Corpus Christi reported below 10% capacity and strict conservation rules in effect.
- The dispute intensified after the council rejected a long-planned seawater desalination plant backed by state funding and loans, as Abbott alleges roughly $750 million was squandered.