SpaceX builds Texas pipeline to Starbase, sparking questions over public water access
(UI) — SpaceX is building a new pipeline from Brownsville to its recently incorporated city of Starbase to replace the trucked-in water deliveries it has relied on until now, according to TechCrunch.
The Brownsville Public Utilities Board confirmed the agreement in July, saying the line will deliver water to a metering point before SpaceX moves it into its own system.
The project would end the current 60,000-gallon-per-day cap that SpaceX faces under its hauled-water arrangement. That change could allow the company to expand housing and facilities for workers at its South Texas launch site.
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For nearby residents, however, access is complicated. Dozens of homes recently lost county water service along the pipeline route. County officials said Starbase should provide water, but city leaders countered that they have no authority or resources to serve those properties. As reported by TechCrunch, SpaceX has offered local households agreements that would permit water and sewer hookups only if residents consent to leave during launches and waive any legal claims against the company.
Although Starbase is incorporated, it does not run utilities. Instead, the forthcoming line will supply SpaceX’s privately managed system, which already serves nearly 240 on-site connections. Without a state-issued Certificate of Convenience and Necessity, SpaceX has no obligation to provide water to non-company residents, meaning control over service remains entirely with the company.
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