Dylan Baddour, Inside Climate News

Even hospitals are drilling wells as the region's reservoirs reach disastrously low levels and ratings agencies downgrade the city's outlook.

Cities towns and industrial complexes aim to quickly pump tens of millions of gallons per day in a bid to avert disaster.

City officials expect to reach a “water emergency” within months and run out of water next year. That would halt jet fuel deliveries to Texas airports, hike gas prices and trigger a local economic disaster without precedent, former officials say.