Residents in and around Corpus Christi, Texas, are watching reservoir levels fall toward crisis territory as the city at the center of the nation’s largest oil export hub struggles to secure enough water for homes, businesses, and heavy industry.
As Fortune detailed, Corpus Christi and the broader Coastal Bend are in the grip of a prolonged water shortage driven by years of drought and rising demand. Since August 2024, the city’s roughly 318,000 residents have faced rules barring lawn watering and restricting things like washing cars, boats, and gardens.
If conditions don’t improve, households could be required to cap monthly water use at 6,000 gallons by December 2026, which is about two-thirds of the average U.S. household’s water use…