SpaceX Starbase Water Pipeline: Access Conditions Explained

New Water Pipeline to Shape Starbase, Texas

A significant new infrastructure project is underway in Starbase, Texas, but it isn't related to launch infrastructure. Instead, it’s a new water pipeline, and the conditions surrounding access to this resource will heavily influence the character of the developing community.

Replacing Trucked Water Deliveries

This pipeline will extend from Brownsville to the recently incorporated city of Starbase. It is designed to replace the current system of truck-hauled water deliveries that SpaceX has been utilizing to supply its workforce and on-site inhabitants. Mark Dombroski, COO of the Brownsville Public Utilities Board (BPUB), verified the contract with SpaceX at a meeting held on July 16th, classifying SpaceX as an in-city customer for water provision.

SpaceX’s Customer Status

The BPUB formally approved the SpaceX contract on June 2nd, as communicated by Dombroski to TechCrunch via email. The rationale behind classifying SpaceX as an in-city, nonresidential customer – which benefits from a lower rate – is unclear, particularly given the company’s establishment of its own municipal entity.

Pipeline Construction and Costs

“SpaceX will be responsible for extending the pipeline – at their own expense – to a metering point within the city limits,” Dombroski explained. “They will also fund and build any necessary improvements to BPUB’s infrastructure to facilitate water delivery to the meter.” This arrangement is intended to fully replace the current water hauling method once SpaceX begins utilizing the metered supply. The timeline is dependent on SpaceX’s construction progress.

Increased Water Capacity

Currently, potable water deliveries are limited to a maximum of 60,000 gallons per day, as outlined in a January 2024 letter from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). The new pipeline will remove this constraint, enabling SpaceX to expand amenities and housing options for its employees more readily.

Water Access for Non-SpaceX Residents

Access to the new water supply for residents not affiliated with SpaceX may be subject to specific stipulations.

Disrupted County Water Service

Approximately 40 properties situated between Brownsville and Boca Chica experienced an unexpected interruption of their county water service in July, as reported by the San Antonio Express-News. Cameron County had previously provided water to these properties as a courtesy, but now asserts that water delivery is the responsibility of Starbase.

Disagreement Between Starbase and Cameron County

Starbase disputes this claim. City administrator Kent Myers reportedly sent a letter to a Cameron County commissioner in July, stating that the abrupt water cutoff “creates safety and public health concerns.”

Starbase’s Limited Capacity

Myers further indicated that Starbase “lacks both the legal authority and the operational capabilities to provide water to these residents.”

SpaceX’s Agreement with Residents

SpaceX has reportedly offered an “unconditional and perpetual agreement” to non-SpaceX affiliated homeowners. This agreement would grant access to Starbase’s water and sewer systems in exchange for residents agreeing to vacate the area during “any and all launch, testing, and other operational activities.”

Terms of the Agreement

The document also stipulates that SpaceX is under no obligation to provide residents with access to its water and wastewater treatment facilities. Furthermore, it does not guarantee the quality or volume of water supplied and prevents residents from pursuing “legal or monetary recourse” against the company.

A Municipality Without Traditional Services

Starbase, a recently established city, operates uniquely under the governance of SpaceX personnel. It functions as a distinct municipal entity situated next to, and including, SpaceX’s extensive launch facility in South Texas.

The incorporation of the city occurred in May. Voting on this incorporation was restricted to registered voters residing within the defined boundaries. An affidavit submitted by Richard Cardile, SpaceX’s senior manager of spaceport operations, indicates that out of 247 lots within these boundaries, only 10 were not under SpaceX ownership.

Prior to the vote, SpaceX was actively preparing to establish a reliable source of potable water for both its employees and future residents.

A state-regulated drinking water system was implemented by SpaceX, featuring a 500,000-gallon ground storage tank. This system also includes pumps, a chlorine analyzer, a tank mixer, and associated equipment, as documented by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). While smaller than a conventional city utility, this on-site system is substantial for an industrial operation.

Currently, it provides service to 239 residential connections, each potentially serving multiple housing units.

The city of Starbase has a deliberately limited scope of responsibility. As stated by Myers to TechCrunch, “The City of Starbase does not provide any utility services.” These services are instead managed and provided directly by SpaceX within the city limits.

Consequently, the planned Brownsville-Starbase pipeline will primarily supply a privately operated water system run by SpaceX. Access to this water supply for neighboring properties is not guaranteed and will be subject to SpaceX’s approval and conditions.

This pipeline addresses immediate water needs for SpaceX personnel and their families, but does not establish a universal public right to water access.

Public records reveal that SpaceX has not yet secured a Certificate of Convenience and Necessity (CCN) from the Texas Public Utility Commission. This certificate is required for entities intending to retail water, meaning SpaceX currently has no legal obligation to provide service to external parties.

TechCrunch reached out to SpaceX for comment regarding potential plans to expand its services to include public utilities, but did not receive a response.