Corpus Christi, Texas, the nation's largest oil export hub, is facing a critical water shortage that has prompted stringent water use restrictions for its 318,000 residents. Since August 2024, residents have been prohibited from watering lawns and limited in watering gardens and washing vehicles. Without significant rainfall, the city may declare a water emergency by December 2026, forcing households to limit water use to 6,000 gallons per month—two-thirds of the average U.S. household's consumption.
Water Supply Challenges
The city provides 65% of the region’s water supply, sourced mainly from rainfall and runoff in three river basins: the Nueces, Lavaca-Navidad, and Colorado. However, drought conditions since late 2021 have drastically reduced water levels in Choke Canyon Reservoir and Lake Corpus Christi to just 8% of their combined capacity. As a result, the city has increasingly relied on the Colorado River and Lake Texana, which now supply 73% of its water. Despite recent rains, Lake Texana’s declining levels remain a concern.
Industrial Growth Strains Resources
The water crisis coincides with significant industrial expansion driven by the Port of Corpus Christi’s growth. From 2013 to 2023, the port’s trade value more than doubled due to increased fracking in West Texas and relaxed oil export restrictions, making it the top U.S. crude oil exporter. This growth has attracted water-intensive petrochemical industries, further straining resources. While city officials once assured companies of sufficient water, no new sources have been developed since 2016, and plans for a $1.2 billion desalination plant were scrapped in September 2025 due to rising costs.
Seeking Solutions
The city is now exploring alternatives, including groundwater wells along the Nueces River, which supply 12 million gallons daily. Officials are working to reduce reliance on surface water, which is vulnerable to drought, but long-term solutions will require substantial investment as industrial demand continues to grow.