Corpus Christi voters on Tuesday approved a citizen-led petition that would impose steep fees for water use on the region's refineries and chemical plants during future droughts. The measure passed by about a two-to-one margin, despite heavy spending by industry groups that opposed it.
Council member Sylvia Campos, who supported the measure, said, "The people have woken up." City Manager Peter Zanoni said the amendment would take effect after a five-year grace period. He said it has significant legal implications and that the city will face major challenges defending it in court and before the Public Utility Commission. Zanoni also said industry groups spent hundreds of thousands of dollars supporting candidates and policies in city elections that focused largely on water.
Dolly Trolley, a local industry promoter and school board member, wrote in the Corpus Christi Caller-Times that the amendment raises concerns about how businesses may view the city. The Coastal Bend Coalition and the Coastal Bend Industries Association did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Texas Campaign for the Environment, which helped lead and finance the petition drive, said industry will likely try to block the measure through legal channels.