ROBSTOWN, TEXAS - MAY 07: Samuel Alaniz prepares to provide water for his livestock at his home on May 07, 2026 in Robstown, Texas. "I believe the city’s plan is to gobble up every piece of property they can have here; expand industrialization, them not caring and us suffering is part of the plan—that we would get frustrated and just have to leave… They see us suffering, they see us with poisoned water, they don’t care if an ammonia plant is sitting next to your home—they don’t care. These industries shouldn’t be sitting next to communities where there are children playing outside, breathing the air, drinking this nasty water--they don’t care. They need to keep industry in an area that’s designated for industry. They’re using a lot of our resources and they just don’t care… I want our local leaders to know that their decisions in providing all this water for industry is affecting rural areas of this community. It affects our way of life, the quality of produce we can raise, our horses, our chickens; our quality of life," said the Alaniz household. Corpus Christi City Council has voted to begin preliminary discussions on building a desalination facility for the Coastal Bend region as the city faces a looming water crisis driven by rising temperatures, prolonged drought conditions, and increasing demand from local oil refineries. If city leaders are unable to secure a workable long-term solution—such as drilling additional groundwater wells or moving forward with desalination projects—Corpus Christi could declare an unprecedented Level 1 water emergency by September of 2026. Such a declaration would require a 25 percent reduction in water usage for both residents and industrial users, including refineries. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

ROBSTOWN, TEXAS - MAY 07: Myra Alaniz stands for a portrait at her home on May 07, 2026 in Robstown, Texas. "I believe the city’s plan is to gobble up every piece of property they can have here; expand industrialization, them not caring and us suffering is part of the plan—that we would get frustrated and just have to leave… They see us suffering, they see us with poisoned water, they don’t care if an ammonia plant is sitting next to your home—they don’t care. These industries shouldn’t be sitting next to communities where there are children playing outside, breathing the air, drinking this nasty water--they don’t care. They need to keep industry in an area that’s designated for industry. They’re using a lot of our resources and they just don’t care… I want our local leaders to know that their decisions in providing all this water for industry is affecting rural areas of this community. It affects our way of life, the quality of produce we can raise, our horses, our chickens; our quality of life," said the Alaniz household. Corpus Christi City Council has voted to begin preliminary discussions on building a desalination facility for the Coastal Bend region as the city faces a looming water crisis driven by rising temperatures, prolonged drought conditions, and increasing demand from local oil refineries. If city leaders are unable to secure a workable long-term solution—such as drilling additional groundwater wells or moving forward with desalination projects—Corpus Christi could declare an unprecedented Level 1 water emergency by September of 2026. Such a declaration would require a 25 percent reduction in water usage for both residents and industrial users, including refineries. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

Czech Republic's Michal Kovarcik (front L) celebrates after the 3-1 goal during the Beijer Hockey Games (Euro Hockey Tour) ice hockey match between Czech Republic and Sweden during the Beijer Hockey Games (Euro Hockey Tour) at Catena Arena in Angelholm, Sweden on May 7, 2026. (Photo by Johan NILSSON / TT News Agency / AFP via Getty Images) / Sweden OUT

Czech Republic's Michal Kovarcik celebrates after the 3-1 goal during the Beijer Hockey Games (Euro Hockey Tour) ice hockey match between Czech Republic and Sweden during the Beijer Hockey Games (Euro Hockey Tour) at Catena Arena in Angelholm, Sweden on May 7, 2026. (Photo by Johan NILSSON / TT News Agency / AFP via Getty Images) / Sweden OUT

CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS - MAY 07: Monna Lytle, 70, walks through her childhood neighborhood of Hillcrest on May 07, 2026 in Corpus Christi, Texas. "This area was the first that allowed Blacks to have a home, and I want you to know that here in Hillcrest, we gone fight to the end... All we're saying is that we need water, we need water to live, but don't put it in a neighborhood that's already been neglected by the city for decades," said Lytle. Corpus Christi City Council has voted to begin preliminary discussions on building a desalination facility for the Coastal Bend region as the city faces a looming water crisis driven by rising temperatures, prolonged drought conditions, and increasing demand from local oil refineries. If city leaders are unable to secure a workable long-term solution—such as drilling additional groundwater wells or moving forward with desalination projects—Corpus Christi could declare an unprecedented Level 1 water emergency by September of 2026. Such a declaration would require a 25 percent reduction in water usage for both residents and industrial users, including refineries. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS - MAY 07: Monna Lytle, 70, stands for a portrait in an area designated for a future desalination plant in her childhood neighborhood of Hillcrest on May 07, 2026 in Corpus Christi, Texas. "This area was the first that allowed Blacks to have a home, and I want you to know that here in Hillcrest, we gone fight to the end... All we're saying is that we need water, we need water to live, but don't put it in a neighborhood that's already been neglected by the city for decades," said Lytle. Corpus Christi City Council has voted to begin preliminary discussions on building a desalination facility for the Coastal Bend region as the city faces a looming water crisis driven by rising temperatures, prolonged drought conditions, and increasing demand from local oil refineries. If city leaders are unable to secure a workable long-term solution—such as drilling additional groundwater wells or moving forward with desalination projects—Corpus Christi could declare an unprecedented Level 1 water emergency by September of 2026. Such a declaration would require a 25 percent reduction in water usage for both residents and industrial users, including refineries. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS - MAY 07: Monna Lytle, 70, speakes while standing for a portrait in an area designated for a future desalination plant in her childhood neighborhood of Hillcrest on May 07, 2026 in Corpus Christi, Texas. "This area was the first that allowed Blacks to have a home, and I want you to know that here in Hillcrest, we gone fight to the end... All we're saying is that we need water, we need water to live, but don't put it in a neighborhood that's already been neglected by the city for decades," said Lytle. Corpus Christi City Council has voted to begin preliminary discussions on building a desalination facility for the Coastal Bend region as the city faces a looming water crisis driven by rising temperatures, prolonged drought conditions, and increasing demand from local oil refineries. If city leaders are unable to secure a workable long-term solution—such as drilling additional groundwater wells or moving forward with desalination projects—Corpus Christi could declare an unprecedented Level 1 water emergency by September of 2026. Such a declaration would require a 25 percent reduction in water usage for both residents and industrial users, including refineries. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS - MAY 07: Monna Lytle, 70, sits for a portrait in her childhood neighborhood Hillcrest on May 07, 2026 in Corpus Christi, Texas. "This area was the first that allowed Blacks to have a home, and I want you to know that here in Hillcrest, we gone fight to the end... All we're saying is that we need water, we need water to live, but don't put it in a neighborhood that's already been neglected by the city for decades," said Lytle. Corpus Christi City Council has voted to begin preliminary discussions on building a desalination facility for the Coastal Bend region as the city faces a looming water crisis driven by rising temperatures, prolonged drought conditions, and increasing demand from local oil refineries. If city leaders are unable to secure a workable long-term solution—such as drilling additional groundwater wells or moving forward with desalination projects—Corpus Christi could declare an unprecedented Level 1 water emergency by September of 2026. Such a declaration would require a 25 percent reduction in water usage for both residents and industrial users, including refineries. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)