City of Corpus Christi Provides Update on Regional Water Supply

The City of Corpus Christi is facing a record drought that, if conditions persist, may necessitate further water conservation measures later this year to protect the water supply.

Over the past few years, the City has worked to strengthen its water supply by making essential upgrades to its water distribution system, pipelines, and infrastructure. The City made important improvements to the O.N. Stevens Water Treatment Plant to ensure the infrastructure could support the Mary Rhodes Pipeline at full capacity, long-overdue investments.

These improvements lay the foundation for the next phase of water expansion currently underway. The projects in progress are expected to add up to 76 million gallons per day (MGD) of new water capacity. The community can trust that the water supply is being carefully managed and reinforced.

As part of a nearly $1 billion investment in water infrastructure, the Corpus Christi City Council approved a portfolio of active projects to increase regional water supply capacity significantly. Several of these projects are already producing water, with additional capacity expected to come online gradually over the next 24 months. Active groundwater and reclaimed water projects include:

·         The Nueces River Groundwater Wells Project – 36 MGD across three well fields:

o   Eastern Well Field 10 MGD

o   Western Well Field 17 MGD

o   ERF Well Field 9 MGD

·         Evangeline Groundwater Project – 24 MGD

·         Reclaimed Water Project – 16 MGD

Groundwater resources will be managed carefully to protect the long-term needs of area farmers, ranchers, and rural communities.

The City has also advanced three seawater desalination projects, recognizing seawater desalination as the only water source resilient to operating independently of rainfall.

The Inner Harbor Desalination Project has received all required permits. It is located within the ship channel, next to the navigation station, a key hub in the City’s water distribution system. The project is set for City Council review in April 2026. A far-field modeling committee is actively collaborating with the City to provide feedback on additional environmental modeling to better protect the health of nearby bays. This effort builds on previous modeling work already completed by the City.

To further secure future supply, the City Council agreed to pay a $2.7 million reservation fee with the Nueces River Authority, guaranteeing the City a share of water when the plant is built. A third potential facility at the Barney Davis site is being explored in partnership with CPS Energy.

The City of Corpus Christi is committed to keeping the community informed about the regional water supply with accurate, up-to-date information.

The City’s official website is the most reliable and accessible resource for current data on water supply conditions, project updates, conservation measures, and other City-related news.

This information can be found:

·         City of Corpus Christi – Online Newsroom

·         City of Corpus Christi – For the Record

·         Securing Water, Together Website

·         Drought Status Stage 3 Website

For media inquiries, please contact Ashley Marion, Strategic Business Manager at (361) 826-3706 or ashleym6@corpuschristiTX.gov.