Corpus Christi officials tell Aransas Pass: new wells, reuse and desalination can avert a shortfall

Corpus Christi City Manager Peter Zanoni and Corpus Christi Water Chief Operating Officer Nick Winkelman told the Aransas Pass City Council that the coastal region remains in a multi‑year drought and is pursuing groundwater, wastewater reuse and desalination to avoid mandatory curtailment.

"We have until next November before we reach a six‑month point where supply doesn't meet demand," Zanoni said, presenting a regional water‑supply dashboard that the utility updates every two weeks. He described a large, ongoing shift from the city's traditional western reservoirs to eastern sources and emphasized the need for supply diversification.

Winkelman gave project details. Corpus Christi has drilled eight wells in an Eastern Well Field that together can produce up to 10 million gallons per day (MGD) and is developing a second site near Blunster with a goal of up to 12 wells. The city is pursuing a separate Evangeline project in San Patricio County with a long‑term goal of 24 MGD and an interim target of 12 MGD.

"We have a $30,000,000 grant that the state is providing," Winkelman said, adding that the state funding is expected to cover roughly 80% of costs for the Nueces well fields. He said the Evangeline property is strategically located on the Mary Rose pipeline, which reduces conveyance costs and time to bring additional groundwater into treatment.

Winkelman also discussed short‑term demand offsets from wastewater reuse. The city is pursuing contracts and conveyance work to make approximately 3 MGD of effluent available by November 2026 and another 10–13 MGD after that, to reduce potable demand. He said the Harbor Island desalination project is currently fully permitted and that Corpus Christi has reserved capacity there (50 MGD reservation) and negotiated favorable port lease terms the city expects to pass through as blended rates to customers.

Modeling presented to Aransas Pass showed a projected "stage 1" water emergency that would place the region about 180 days from supply shortfall in November 2026 if no new sources come online. With the Western Well Field and phased Evangeline groundwater additions included in the model, the city said the emergency date shifts out by one year or more.

Council members asked about rate impacts and industrial usage. Corpus Christi officials said large industrial customers already pay higher, cost‑of‑service rates and that the city is still finalizing cost estimates for Evangeline; officials declined to give firm rate projections until engineer estimates are complete.

The presenters recommended continued public outreach, posting the dashboard and weekly memos on the city's website, and further community meetings on groundwater projects and desalination options.