As discussions about the region’s water supply continue at the city, state and federal levels, local energy and manufacturing companies say they are working to reduce water use while maintaining operations.
Industry leaders say the challenge is balancing conservation efforts with the need to support facilities that play a key role in the local and national economy.
Companies like Gulf Coast Growth Ventures say they have already taken steps to limit water consumption, including recycling water used in cooling towers multiple times.
Officials with the company said they are “always looking for technology to reduce water use.”
The issue comes as Corpus Christi faces ongoing concerns about its water supply, impacting not only residents but also major industries in the Coastal Bend.
“We’ve lost projects, we’ve lost some expansions and other improvements at some of the facilities that we already have,” said Bob Paulison, Executive Director of the Coastal Bend Industry Association.
Paulison said refineries and chemical manufacturers have focused on improving efficiency in one of their largest water uses: cooling systems.
“Cooling is the number one water use at refineries and chemical manufacturers, and so they adjusted how they use their cooling towers so that they get more, they recycle the water more in those towers before they have to change it out,” Paulison said.
He added that companies are also investing in technology to reuse more water on-site.
“They’re implementing approaches where they can recapture more of the water that currently just flows into like their on site wastewater treatment plants, and rerouting it so that they can reuse it in the plant again,” Paulison said.
Flint Hills Resources, another major player in the region, says it uses about seven million gallons of water per day for refining operations but has reduced its water usage over time.
“Since about 2010, our overall water use has trended down as we’ve increased production. On a per barrel basis, we’ve reduced water by about 29 percent, so like I mentioned, we’re always conscious of our water use,” said Kara Rivas, Public Affairs Manager at Flint Hills Resources.
Rivas said the company is also working with the city on water reuse efforts.
Federal leaders say the issue requires a broader, long-term solution.
“The energy sector needs water. The population needs water sustainability and assure that they can get continued water flowing and at a good price. So it’s got to be a balance between industry and the population that lives here. That’s why I believe we need a national investment in a water resource, that assures that we’re going to have quality drinking water. Water to sustain industry to continue providing 94,000 local jobs,” said U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez.
Some residents have asked if refineries could build their own desalination plants to reduce reliance on city water, but industry leaders say the issue is not as simple as it seems.
Paulison said if companies were to stop using city water entirely, it could have unintended consequences for residents, including potentially higher water rates.
Officials say efforts to conserve and reuse water will continue as the region searches for long-term solutions to its water challenges.