A five-year drought has reduced the reservoir to just over 9% capacity, revealing dry lakebeds and forcing difficult choices about water for residents and industry.
The wide drying of the shores of Lake Corpus Christi in Texas reveals stretches of exposed lakebed, ruined piers, and previously submerged objects of history – from bridges to boathouses.
During a recent visit, local resident Isabel Araiza, a college professor and cofounder of the civic initiative For the Greater Good, noted that the lake had changed so radically that she could hardly believe there was ever water there.
“It’s just a lawn”
– Isabel Araiza
Lake Corpus Christi is one of the city’s main water sources along the Gulf Coast, but due to a five-year drought its level has fallen to historically low marks and stands at just over 9% of its full capacity.
A similar picture is seen at other city water sources: Choke Canyon Reservoir is filled to less than 8%, while Lake Texana in the northeast is about 50%.
Water supply crisis in Corpus Christi
Such a sharp drop in water supplies is putting pressure on the city’s infrastructure and could lead to the introduction of emergency water-use restrictions to prevent depletion and business shutdowns.
The city hosts a significant petrochemical industry, steel plants, and gas and oil export facilities, which require water for cooling and cleaning during production.
According to Rayana Hassler, vice president of Rystad Energy, Corpus Christi is in a “unique position” due to the scale of its industry and the arid climate.
Only 12 companies use about 55% of the city’s water, according to city manager Peter Zanoni.
Nevertheless, many plants have operated in the region for decades, but industrial demand is rising with the commissioning of new facilities that promise reliable water supplies for their needs.
The main focus of efforts is the Inner Harbor desalination project. Initially, it was expected to ease the crisis, but the cost rose from about $757 million to nearly $1.3 billion, after which the city abandoned the project at a September public meeting.
Nevertheless, the drop in water supplies has brought the issue back to the agenda: the city council is to select a new concept from another bidder in early April.
Although the project is fully permitted and funded, desalination is expected to provide a robust and resilient water supply. But its cost and energy consumption remain key factors for consideration.
The outlook remains challenging, and environmental and marine life issues are being discussed alongside the needs of residents and industry.
“People want jobs. People want economic stability. They want water, don’t they?”
– Isabel Araiza
These challenges underscore the need for collaborative solutions among government, industry, and the public to secure water for the future and to preserve the region’s economic viability.