Corpus Christi readies strict water curtailments and surcharges ahead of looming Level 1 emergency

Corpus Christi readies strict water curtailments and surcharges ahead of looming Level 1 emergencyAs the Texas city projects falling within 180 days of a water supply deficit, officials are finalizing baseline allocations, with large industrial users facing mandatory physical cutbacks despite paying into a drought surcharge exemption fund.

The city plans to implement uniform curtailment percentages across all customer classes once a Level 1 water emergency is declared.

Large volume industrial users, representing 23 connections, will face mandatory physical water reductions based on individualized 2022-2024 baselines.

While industrial users paying a $0.31 per 1,000-gallon exemption fee will avoid financial surcharges, city legal staff confirmed they are not exempt from physical curtailment.

Residential customers will be assigned a 7,000-gallon monthly baseline, with usage above that threshold subject to a $4 per 1,000-gallon surcharge.

Corpus Christi Water (CCW) is preparing to declare a Level 1 water emergency, a regulatory trigger activated when the city is projected to be 180 days away from water supply failing to meet demand. During a March 31 workshop, CCW Chief Operating Officer Nick Winkleman outlined the city's updated Drought Contingency Plan (DCP), focusing on establishing baseline water allocations and mandatory curtailments to ensure system pressures do not drop below the 35 PSI threshold that would necessitate a system-wide boil water notice. A major focal point of the workshop was the regulatory treatment of the city's 23 large volume industrial connections. Several of these major industrial users currently pay a continuous 'drought surcharge exemption fee' of $0.31 per 1,000 gallons—recently increased from $0.25 via CPI adjustments—which directly funds municipal water supply projects. While this fee exempts participating industries from emergency financial surcharges during a drought, City Attorney Miles Risley confirmed it does not shield them from mandatory physical water supply cutbacks. Under Texas Water Code 11.039, the city retains the authority to enforce pro rata reductions or physically restrict flow to maintain system integrity. Winkleman noted that CCW is working with consultants from Carollo Engineers to establish individualized baselines for these 23 large users based on 2022-2024 consumption data, accounting for seasonal operational variances. Once a Level 1 emergency is declared, a uniform curtailment percentage will be applied across all customer classes to stretch the city's remaining supply. For the city's roughly 90,600 residential connections, CCW is proposing a flat baseline of 7,000 gallons per month. CCW data shows the residential class, which accounts for approximately 14% of total system volume, currently averages around 6,000 gallons per month after widespread adherence to existing irrigation bans. If city council enacts emergency surcharges, residential users would pay an additional $4 per 1,000 gallons over the 7,000-gallon threshold. Commercial baselines will be established dynamically based on meter size, while the city's 10 wholesale customers, including the San Patricio Municipal Water District, will face percentage reductions calculated against a five-year monthly average baseline. Enforcement of the DCP includes Class C misdemeanors with fines up to $500 per violation per day, and the authorization to disconnect service for repeated non-compliance. Staff clarified that while they outlined the legal framework for a moratorium on new water meter connections under Texas House Bill 2559, they are not currently recommending a moratorium. To offset the supply deficit long-term, City Manager Peter Zanoni and Winkleman highlighted ongoing supply diversification strategies. These include incorporating new groundwater supplies from the Western Well Field, advancing seawater desalination planning, and expanding major effluent reuse partnerships with industrial clients such as Valero and Flint Hills.