City officials are asking school superintendents to prepare for potential water pressure drops as concerns continue over the Corpus Christi water supply.<\/p>\n
Major reservoirs are sitting at just over eight percent capacity and going down. Models show a Level 1 water emergency could happen without real alternatives.<\/p>\n
“A school is an essential business that needs to operate,” Fire Chief Brandon Wade said.<\/p>\n
“I feel hospitals of course are first, and then I think we\u2019re next. I mean, I have thousands of kids who need water all day long,” Calallen Superintendent Emily Lorenz said.<\/p>\n
Superintendents across the region met with city officials to discuss preparations. City leaders say districts need to be prepared for anything.<\/p>\n
“It can literally change from the morning, to the afternoon,” Wade said.<\/p>\n
“Do we just call school closed\u2026 and pick up the kids? Or do we have bottled water? Or two pallets of water per school and we can hand some out?” Wade said.<\/p>\n
Suggestions include making temporary changes, like limiting water fountains and relying on bottled water. However, hygiene remains one of the biggest concerns.<\/p>\n
“I think the hardest part isn\u2019t even the water bottles. It\u2019s flushing toilets. I mean, that\u2019s number one,” Lorenz said.<\/p>\n
District leaders say they need to prepare now as many are already planning budgets for the next school year.<\/p>\n
“We\u2019re on a time frame now. Crunching numbers,” a West Oso ISD employee said.<\/p>\n
I spoke with Wade, who says these conversations are also helping the city prepare.<\/p>\n
“We don’t operate a school, so hearing from them from things such as, you know, sanitation, drinking water, budgets that allows us to come back,” Wade said.<\/p>\n
As the city works to find a water solution, districts are focusing on being ready before any crisis hits. A City Council workshop focused solely on water crisis plans and ideas is scheduled for next Tuesday at 10 a.m.<\/p>\n
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