Corpus Christi voters approve industrial water surcharges
Voters approved the citizen-led charter amendment by a two-to-one margin on 3 November 2026, replacing an industrial drought exemption with automatic surcharges after a grace period.
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Corpus Christi voters approved a citizen-led charter amendment that would automatically add surcharges to industrial water bills during drought. The measure replaces an exemption that allowed facilities to avoid potential drought surcharges by paying a separate fee.
Inside Climate News said the amendment passed by a two-to-one margin. Refineries, chemical plants and other industrial facilities use more than half of the region’s water, and its reservoirs nearly dried up in 2026. Rainfall in July refilled them above critical levels.
How the charges would work
Current city rules require the Corpus Christi City Council to act before drought surcharges can be imposed. The amendment would instead trigger them automatically at designated reservoir levels. It also ends the exemption fee of $0.31 per 1,000 gallons.
| Condition | Increase per 1,000 gallons |
|---|---|
| Reservoirs below 30 percent | $3 |
| Reservoirs below 20 percent | $6 |
| City declares a water emergency | $12 |
Grace period and potential challenges
City Manager Peter Zanoni said the amendment would take effect after a 5-year grace period. He expects industry groups to challenge it legally during that time and said the city will face challenges defending the policy in court and before the state’s Public Utility Commission.
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