In recent weeks, at least six small cities and towns within the Coastal Bend region of Texas have declared states of disaster, highlighting their plight amid an escalating water crisis.
While all eyes are on Corpus Christi—Texas’s eighth-largest city—its water supply is critical not only for its own residents and industries but also for the wider seven-county region, which includes 20 additional municipalities.
“Everyone is asking, ‘What is happening, and what should we do?’” said Elida Castillo, mayor of Taft, which issued its disaster declaration on April 21. “I’m trying to determine our next steps.”
Castillo organized a town hall meeting addressing the water crisis for Taft’s 3,000 residents, but officials from Corpus Christi failed to attend, and she has received little communication from county or state representatives. This has left her with the impression that no one has a clear plan of action.
Amy Hardberger, director of the Center for Water Law and Policy at Texas Tech School of Law in Lubbock, noted that many people struggle to grasp the serious consequences of dwindling reservoirs, while those who do are filled with anxiety about the unfolding situation in Corpus Christi.
Should Corpus Christi become the first major American city to deplete its water supply, the repercussions would extend to surrounding communities. Cities like Ingleside and Aransas Pass, which together have around 19,000 residents, issued disaster declarations on April 22.
“We need legislative support now rather than later,” stated Ingleside City Manager Brenton Lewis. “The small cities declaring disasters are actively seeking alternative water sources.”
In addition to Ingleside and Aransas Pass, the towns of Three Rivers, Orange Grove, and Alice also declared disasters in the preceding week.
“The regional demand for water is surpassing the available supply,” indicated an April 14 declaration from the City of Alice, which has 17,000 residents. “Ongoing drought conditions jeopardize public health, safety, and essential services.”
Despite the crisis, Alice anticipates a relatively favorable outcome, thanks to the recent launch of a groundwater desalination plant, which took a decade to complete and is managed by a private company called Seven Seas.
“We’re essentially outsourcing an essential service,” remarked Alice City Manager Michael Esparza. “While we pay a private firm for this, it’s a significant concern since it involves our water supply.”
Meanwhile, about 50 miles away, Beeville declared a disaster last October, issuing $35 million in municipal bonds—approximately $2,600 per resident—to finance its own emergency groundwater desalination initiative.
However, many small-town governments are hesitant or unable to confront the steep costs associated with reverse osmosis treatment, according to Kasy Stinson, a project developer for Seven Seas. This is especially true for towns that have historically undervalued water resources in Texas.
“I’m not sure everyone fully understands the seriousness of the situation,” added Stinson, who previously worked for a decade in the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s drinking water division.
Mayor Castillo of Taft shares these concerns, having observed the crisis develop over several years. Last year, she frequently traveled to Austin to engage with state lawmakers as they considered ambitious legislation aimed at preventing projected water deficits statewide.
Despite lawmakers proposing a $20 billion Texas Water Fund, Castillo believes the funding is insufficient compared to the $174 billion estimate for Texas’s long-term water needs released this month.
Castillo criticized lawmakers for focusing too heavily on creating new water sources rather than conserving existing supplies. She pointed out the massive water consumption of an Exxon-SABIC plastics facility, which opened in 2022 just five miles from Taft, using more water than Corpus Christi’s entire population of 300,000.
In response to the ongoing water crisis, leaders in Corpus Christi announced plans to impose a 25% reduction in water use by September for major industrial users, including Exxon-SABIC and 14 other large companies like Occidental Chemical and Valero.
Castillo, whose family has lived in Taft for generations, believes immediate emergency cuts are essential. She feels that the leaders in Corpus Christi are prioritizing corporate profits over the well-being of local residents.
“They’re not treating this situation with the seriousness it demands,” she stated. “There needs to be greater pressure on Governor Abbott.”
Governor Abbott, known for his pro-business policies, relaxed regulations in March to accelerate Corpus Christi’s emergency groundwater projects and has committed state funds to develop new water supplies. In 2024, the state pledged $750 million in low-interest loans for a seawater desalination project in Corpus Christi, which was canceled in 2025 but is slated for revival this June.
However, Abbott has not publicly called for companies to reduce their water usage or recognized the potential for mandatory reductions in September.
“The Coastal Bend is a vital economic engine for both Texas and the nation,” remarked Andrew Mahaleris, Abbott’s press secretary, in a statement. “Governor Abbott will employ all necessary measures to ensure a safe and reliable water supply for the Corpus Christi area.”
As Corpus Christi scrambles to establish a range of emergency groundwater initiatives, city officials anticipate that mandatory water consumption reductions will still be necessary in September. Schools, hospitals, and chemical plants across the region are now drilling their own emergency water wells.
During an April 24 appearance on NBC News, when questioned about the lack of immediate water use reductions for large industrial customers, Corpus Christi City Manager Peter Zanoni stated, “We don’t want to jeopardize our economy. It’s a race against time.”
