FAQ

To serve you better, we've assembled a list of our customers' most frequently asked questions. If you don't find your answer here, feel free to contact us.

What does the Authority do?

The Authority purchases water from the City of Corpus Christi and brings it 28 miles to Kingsville through a 42-inch water line and to western Nueces County through a smaller spurline. It provides water resources to communities in the area it serves. The Authority also manages the Nueces Water Supply Corporation and the Ricardo Water Supply Corporation through contracts with those entities.

Who's in charge of STWA?

The Authority is overseen by a nine-member Board of Directors. Five directors are named by the Kleberg County Commissioners Court, and four are named by the Nueces County Commissioners Court. Day-to-day operations are overseen by an Administrator  with 17 staff members.

Where does the Authority get its money?

The Authority sells water to seven customers – Kingsville, Bishop, Ricardo WSC, Nueces WSC, Agua Dulce, Driscoll, and Banquete. The Authority passes through the cost-per thousand-gallons rate from the City of Corpus Christi and adds a  Handling Charge of 50.0 cents per thousand gallons.

In 2001, voters approved an operating-and maintenance tax up to 12 cents per $100 of property value. In September 2022, the STWA Board adopted a M&O tax rate of 6.4912 cents per $100 and an I&S tax rate of 1.3577 cents per $100, so a home on the tax rolls at $100,000 pays about $6.54 a month to support reliable water operations and repayment of voter approved bonds.

My water tastes, looks, and smells funny. Is it safe to drink?

All public water systems are required to maintain a minimum chlorine level of 0.2 mg/L (tested at the end of each line) by state law. Systems that use chloramine as a disinfectant must maintain a level of 0.5 mg/L by state law. Our disinfectant levels are tested daily to ensure safety.

Why does debris come out of the faucet when running hot water?

Most likely your water heater needs to be flushed. CAUTION: Most manufacturers recommend hiring a professional to flush your water heater. If you plan on doing this yourself, read the owner's manual to keep from being hurt and or damaging the water heater.

Why is my water discolored?

A repair could have been completed recently allowing air to enter the line, causing the milky look.

How could I have used this much water?

You may not have - the numbers on your meter may have been transposed or hard to read. You could possibly have a leaky toilet or faucet that's difficult to detect. Just call the office and we'll work with you to solve the problem.

What do I do if I am experiencing low pressure?

Check your meter and the surrounding area for possible leaks. Next, call our office and report low pressure for your area.