Surcharge exemption remains for industry through water emergency

Corpus Christi's industrial water users who participate in the voluntary drought surcharge exemption program, paying just 31 cents per 1,000 gallons year-round, will remain exempt from emergency surcharges even if the city declares a Level 1 water emergency, city officials confirmed.

The program has generated roughly $30 million since 2018, with funds currently servicing debt on the Inner Harbor desalination plant, but critics argue it gives industrial companies a pass precisely when conservation matters most.

Councilman Gil Hernandez called the exemption during an emergency "pretty stupid," comparing it to paying a monthly fee to avoid speeding tickets.

Meanwhile, the Fair Water Amendment petition effort is trending toward 15,000 signatures, aiming to let voters decide the program's fate.

The City Council is still expected to act to finalize key emergency provisions, including curtailment percentages, industrial water allocations, and enforcement mechanisms, before the end of April.

Read the story from Caller Times reporter Kirsten Crow.