Drew Molly, who has led Corpus Christi water supply projects, plans to leave his post

• Corpus Christi Water’s Chief Operating Officer, Drew Molly, has resigned, effective September 3rd.
• City officials expressed mixed reactions, with some concerned about the impact of Molly’s departure on ongoing water projects.

(This story was updated to add new information.)

The city of Corpus Christi’s top water supply expert will soon be leaving his post.

Drew Molly, chief operating officer of Corpus Christi Water, plans to step down from what has become a high-profile position overseeing major water initiatives.

Molly submitted his resignation Aug. 20, and his last day will be Sept. 3, City Manager Peter Zanoni wrote in a message sent to the council.

Several council members on Aug. 21 expressed surprise about Molly’s decision.

Responses on whether his exit would ultimately impact work on the water supply projects were mixed. Some council members said the abrupt departure would amount to a setback, while others suggested that the impact could be managed by the departmental team, even though Molly’s leaving may be a loss.

Molly has worked at the city of Corpus Christi since 2022 and has served as CCW’s chief operating officer since January 2024, according to city documents.

Prior to that, he had worked for the city of Houston’s water department for 16 years, Molly told the Caller-Times.

His new job, he said, will be serving as the city of Houston’s chief water officer.

In part, the decision to leave the city of Corpus Christi was based on a sense of accomplishment with his work, Molly said, adding that he felt “like I achieved most — if not everything — that I wanted to do.”

Water projects

Molly has been at the forefront of the city’s ongoing response to the intense drought that has taken hold of the region in recent years, overseeing multiple water supply projects — among them, drilling new groundwater wells on the Nueces River, improvement and expansion of the Mary Rhodes Pipeline and a popular water reclamation program.

The largest of the projects, however, is the proposed Inner Harbor seawater desalination plant.

Among his goals during his service in Corpus Christi, Molly had endeavored to develop a seawater-related alternative water supply option, he said, noting that federal and state permitting were secured for the plant, as well as low-interest financing.

The initiative has been a flashpoint within the community on the merits and disadvantages of a plant, with ongoing dispute between opponents and supporters on the plant’s projected costs, environmental soundness and location adjacent to a historically majority Black and Hispanic neighborhood.

The City Council vote scheduled for Sept. 2 is expected to determine whether the city will continue funding the design of the project.

Based on 10% design, cost estimates put its development at about $1.2 billion, a figure that was disclosed in July.

“It was a clear indicator that we were going to have to do a lot of work to get that cost down, which I’m convinced we can,” Molly said. “I’m not entirely convinced that the project can’t go forward, but … as we all know, there’s some real challenges and some headwinds for this project as we speak right now.”

Also nearing a council decision is a proposal to pursue brackish groundwater in San Patricio County.

City staff has been working with the owners of the Evangeline Laguna project to broker terms of an agreement, with a potential contract going to the council after terms are finalized.

Moving forward

Zanoni wrote in his Aug. 21 message to the City Council that he anticipated discussing with “Nick Winkelmann later today about his serving as interim COO until a permanent hire can be secured.”

Winkelmann is presently CCW’s director of water systems and support service.

In a statement, Mayor Paulette Guajardo wrote that Molly “has been a transformative leader for Corpus Christi Water, bringing decades of engineering expertise and a deep commitment to sustainable water solutions.”

“His vision and dedication strengthened our infrastructure and advanced regional collaboration in ways that will benefit our community for years to come,” she wrote. “We are grateful for his outstanding service and the lasting impact he has made on our city’s water system.”

Several council members praised Molly’s professionalism and knowledge, and described his upcoming departure as a loss, while also expressing confidence with workers and leadership who are currently in place at the water department.

City Councilwoman Carolyn Vaughn said she was disappointed to hear of Molly’s planned departure and wished him well.

She doesn’t foresee major impacts for ongoing projects, she added.

“I don’t think there’s going to be a problem with that,” Vaughn said. “He’s got some good guys underneath him and a good department.”

City Councilman Mark Scott said he was glad to see Winkelmann potentially coming in as interim COO, but that Molly’s exit represented “a huge loss for the community.”

“I think this is a critical time in our water development process, and losing Drew at the helm is a big setback for us,” Scott said.

Houston is different, but not necessarily “bigger and better,” Molly said.

“I would never say that what I was able to do here wasn’t big and awesome,” he said. “It was an incredible opportunity and one that I’ll never, never forget and always cherish.”

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