SpaceX is building a water pipeline to Starbase – but access comes with some conditions

SpaceX is constructing a water pipeline from Brownsville to the newly incorporated City of Starbase, Texas, to replace its current system of truck-hauled potable water deliveries for employees and residents. The Brownsville Public Utilities Board (BPUB) has contracted with SpaceX, treating it as an in-city nonresidential customer, which allows for a cheaper water rate despite Starbase being its own city. Under this agreement, SpaceX will fund and build the pipeline infrastructure to a metering point within Starbase city limits, after which BPUB will deliver water to that meter. This pipeline will remove the current 60,000 gallons per day cap on hauled water, facilitating SpaceX’s expansion of employee housing and amenities. However, the pipeline’s development has led to complications for nearly 40 non-SpaceX affiliated properties along the route, which were abruptly cut off from county water service. Cameron County had previously provided water as a courtesy but now claims Starbase is responsible for these residents’ water