exTRA by the Trinity River Authority of Texas

A growing water crisis in Corpus Christi is now drawing threats of a state takeover, as leaders warn the coastal city is running out of time to secure a long-term water supply.

The Tyler City Council received a presentation on a proposal to issue $82 million in bonds for wastewater system improvements, Kate Dietz, the City of Tyler director of utilities, said.

County and federal officials gathered at Castro Ranch in Canutillo on Tuesday afternoon to celebrate what they said will be a life-changing milestone for families who have gone generations without reliable water and wastewater services. El Paso County held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Northwest Area 1 Water and Wastewater Project, a $14.7 million effort expected to bring first-time water and wastewater service to five colonias in the area.

The City of Combes was awarded a $2 million grant to repair most of its sewage system. Part of the money will be used to buy power generators for all 10 of the city's sewage lift stations. Currently, none of the city’s lift stations are connected to backup power.

Conroe officials are inching closer to creating a monthly stormwater utility fee that would add a new drainage charge on utility bills for residents and businesses to help fund drainage projects, aging infrastructure work and flood mitigation across the city.

The imminent depletion of water supplies in Corpus Christi threatens to cut off the flow of jet fuel to Texas airports and other oil exports from one of the nation's largest petroleum ports, triggering potential shock waves through energy markets in Texas and beyond. Without significant rainfall, Corpus Christi is headed for a "water emergency" within months and total depletion of the system next year, according to the city's website.

READ HERE: 'Dire catastrophe': Corpus Christi could be close to running out of water

As of Thursday morning, the lake sat at 9.9% of capacity. Choke Canyon Reservoir is in worse condition, with its water level at 8.3% of capacity. The combined capacity of Choke Canyon and Lake Corpus Christi stands at 8.7%.

While we often focus on the astronomical electric bills driven by air conditioning, the water bill frequently sneaks up as a close second. Between parched lawns, extra showers, and the occasional pool refill, the gallons add up faster than most homeowners realize.

Forecasters say multiple storm systems will sweep through between Wednesday and Sunday, with rainfall totals piling up quickly.

The City of Roma has secured $15 million from the Texas Water Development Board to rehabilitate its 30-year-old water treatment plant. The project will restore full capacity, improve water pressure, and ensure clean tap water for 20,000 residents by 2029.

The water utility serving the City of Socorro, Clint, San Elizario, and surrounding areas said it is cleaning wastewater lines clogged with wipes.

The Lacy Lakeview City Council has tabled a preliminary agreement for a wastewater study tied to a proposed data center.

Pflugerville has more than $426 million in wastewater projects underway and another $419 million in long-term water system investments.

LCRA projections show Lake Buchanan could refill by July 2026 under wet conditions while Lake Travis remains below full; Stage 1 restrictions could follow.

Rain in Runaway Bay used to be cause for celebration. Now it’s cause for concern. After heavy rainfall, raw sewage overflows from the city’s wastewater system and into the lake. It happened again on Feb. 14, aggravating an open wound that has polluted Lake Bridgeport for at least four years as the city waits to begin construction on a permanent fix. 

The Lake Gladewater Dam is more than 70 years old — two decades past its designed 50-year lifespan — and city officials say it may be nearing the end of its useful life. Cracks are visible in the concrete at the spillway. City Manager Charles Smith said the dam should remain stable for some time, but only if a natural disaster does not occur first. He said the dam is most at risk of failure if the lake overflows.

Pflugerville officials have declared a water emergency after a pipeline failure cut off raw water feeding Lake Pflugerville, pushing lake levels to historic lows and prompting strict Stage 3 water restrictions. Mayor Doug Weiss signed a Declaration of Disaster to address the imminent threat to the public water supply.

President Donald Trump said the federal government will help fund a saltwater desalination plant along the Texas Gulf Coast to provide relief to drought-stricken South Texas. Corpus Christi, the state's eighth-largest city, is on pace to run out of water by spring 2027.

Rockport residents are bracing for potential water bill increases as city officials grapple with a looming 500% hike in raw water rates from Corpus Christi. At a recent community forum, City Council Ward 3 Representative Brad Brundrett detailed the city's reliance on treated water from the San Patricio Water District, sourced from lakes including Corpus Christi, Choke Canyon, and Texana.