CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Corpus Christi officials say water curtailments could begin as soon as November 2026 if drought conditions persist, raising concerns for South Texas’ oil and gas industry.
The industry, which includes one of the nation’s largest petroleum ports and employs about 12,000 workers locally, relies heavily on water for refining, drilling and production. Those jobs typically pay three times the area’s median income.
“When it comes to water, these issues are some of the most serious that we’ve faced,” said Todd Staples, president of the Texas Oil and Gas Association. “Both homeowners and businesses alike depend on a reliable water supply. The fact that these needs might not be met could have extreme consequences for the operations at these facilities.”…