Nueces County, Texas — public water systems

How does Nueces County compare with other Texas counties?

Nueces County has the 83rd-most active public water systems among the 309 counties listed for active Texas systems in EPA records; among the 234 with 3 or more systems, the median has 12. Its systems report 371,295 people served in total, the 17th-largest county figure in the state and 1.1% of the statewide total. The average system here reports serving 18,565 people, about 3.9 times the Texas average of 4,789. Population figures are what each system reports; people served by more than one system, such as a wholesaler and the town that buys from it, are counted by each.

Where does Nueces County's drinking water come from?

By primary water source, Nueces County's active systems draw on purchased surface water (14, 70%), groundwater (3, 15%), surface water (2, 10%) and purchased groundwater (1, 5%). Overall, 20% rely mainly on groundwater (including purchased groundwater) and 80% on surface water, compared with 78% and 21% across Texas. Purchased surface water means the system buys surface water from another public water system rather than drawing its own. The county's largest system, City of Corpus Christi, draws primarily on surface water.

What kinds of water systems operate in Nueces County?

Nueces County's active systems break down as 12 community systems (60%), 5 non-transient non-community systems (25%) and 3 transient non-community systems (15%). A community water system serves at least 15 connections used by year-round residents, or regularly serves at least 25 year-round residents. Homes, apartments and mobile-home parks are served by these. A non-transient non-community water system regularly serves at least 25 of the same people for more than six months a year, but not where they live. Schools, factories, office buildings and hospitals with their own supply are typical examples. A transient non-community water system serves places where people do not stay long, such as gas stations and campgrounds, and regularly serves at least 25 people a day for at least 60 days a year. EPA lists their owner types as local government (50%), private (45%) and federal government (5%).