Corpus Christi is facing a critical water situation, with city leaders warning that emergency measures could be necessary within two months. During a lengthy city council meeting, Nick Winkelmann, interim chief operating officer of Corpus Christi Water, presented five potential scenarios that could lead to a level one water emergency by May, where the city’s water supply is projected to fall short of demand within a 180-day period.
City officials are actively monitoring these scenarios and expect to refine their options in the coming weeks as they gather more data. The city has yet to finalize a curtailment plan to determine how much residents and businesses will need to reduce their water usage, a decision that could take weeks or months to implement if the situation deteriorates.
City Manager Peter Zanoni emphasized the lack of precedent or established procedures for handling such a crisis, indicating the urgency of having a clear plan in place should conditions worsen. The situation has escalated over the years, largely due to Corpus Christi’s development strategy, which has focused on attracting large industrial companies while assuring adequate water supply.
A significant part of the city’s long-term water strategy relied on a seawater desalination project intended to provide 30 million gallons of water daily by 2028. However, opposition from the public led to the cancellation of this project last year, creating uncertainty in the city’s water management plans. Leaders are now considering restarting this desalination venture, which previously secured over $750 million in low-interest loans.
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As drought conditions persist, seasonal forecasts from the National Weather Service predict very little rainfall from July to September, which could drastically impact the inflow to vital reservoirs such as Choke Canyon, Lake Corpus Christi, and Lake Texana. Despite increasing production capacity from the city’s primary water pipeline, critical infrastructure projects are still months or years away from completion, leaving the city in a precarious position.
In a bid to alleviate water shortages, the city plans to drill wells in rural Nueces County, expected to yield 26 million gallons of water daily once operational. However, delays in obtaining necessary permits from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) could impede progress. The governor’s office recently ordered the TCEQ to expedite permit processing to assist the city’s efforts.
On the agenda for the council meeting was also the acceleration of a second well drilling project in neighboring San Patricio County, despite lacking the requisite permits. This project could potentially provide 24 million gallons of water per day by 2028, but the timeline hinges largely on securing permits, which are currently stalled due to legal challenges.
City officials moved ahead with a $190 million construction plan for the Evangeline groundwater project, emphasizing the necessity of this initiative to avert a water emergency. Council members voiced concerns over the financial commitment and risks involved without guaranteed permits, with discussions reflecting the anxiety surrounding the situation.
Mayor Paulette M. Guajardo reiterated the urgency of the water crisis, expressing a strong commitment to moving the project forward. While the council approved the spending plans unanimously, the atmosphere remained tense as leaders grappled with the immediate and long-term implications of the city’s water supply challenges.