Corpus Christi braces for a water emergency as industry cuts loom

Corpus Christi faces the prospect of a water emergency as reservoirs near depletion, with a planned 25% citywide cut in water use starting in September. Most savings are expected from large industrial users (ExxonMobil, Valero, Occidental) rather than households, though 70% of homes already use less than the proposed limits and about 27,000 could face fees or shutoffs. Details on enforcement, hospital exemptions, school impacts, and how businesses will cut back remain unsettled. The plan’s duration depends on rainfall, with potential rolling restrictions or bottled-water shipments if drought persists, and potential legal wrangles with industry over imposed cuts.