As Corpus Christi nears the two-year mark under drought conditions, the city has escalated to Stage Two Drought Restrictions, signaling a more profound concern over its dwindling water supply. On March 12, the combined water storage level dipping below 30% triggered these heightened restrictions. This development prompted a detailed presentation by Drew Molly, the Chief Operating Officer of Corpus Christi Water, at a recent city council meeting to inform the city and residents about the critical water situation and the necessary adjustments in water usage.
Molly’s message to the community was clear: these restrictions focus on curbing outdoor water usage without demanding significant cutbacks on indoor water use or industrial operations. “We’re not asking residents to cut back what they do inside their houses. We’re not asking the industry to cut back on what they’re doing inside their businesses. At the end of the day, what we’re asking folks to do is really trying to change behavior,” Molly emphasized.
The Stage Two Drought Restrictions have specific guidelines, especially regarding landscape watering. Under these restrictions, Corpus Christi Water limits customers to watering their landscape once every other week, reducing from the once-a-week allowance under Stage One restrictions. The city has synchronized watering schedules to ensure that all watering occurs in the same week, leaving weeks without landscape watering. The determination of watering days remains linked to the residents’ trash pickup schedule, with special instructions for the Calallen area, highlighting a tailored approach to conservation efforts.
Further educational initiatives have been announced to promote water conservation, including social media and TV postings on water-saving techniques, along with collaborations with Xeriscape and the Botanical Gardens to provide symposiums on water conservation landscaping.
The scarcity of rainfall has put Corpus Christi’s water system under strain, with the combined water storage level at 29.8% as of the latest reports. Molly shared a grim outlook for summer rainfall, indicating that the situation could remain dire. Despite this, the city is not opting to impose surcharges on water bills. Still, it is instead focusing on long-term solutions and immediate conservation measures to navigate through these challenging times.
Molly provided updates on several long-term water supply projects, including expansions at the O.N. Stevens Water Treatment Plant, improvements to the Mary Rhodes Pipeline, and progress on the Inner Harbor Seawater Desalination Facility. These efforts aim to significantly increase the city’s water supply capacity, with desalination plants potentially adding up to 70 million gallons of water daily.
The City Council’s response to the drought and proposed measures has been a mix of concern and proactive questioning. Council members have expressed interest in further cutbacks for industrial businesses and the efficiency of water use in car washes, among other issues. The dialogue underscores the community’s responsibility to face the water scarcity challenge and the collective effort required to sustain Corpus Christi through this prolonged drought.
As Corpus Christi braces for a potentially dry summer, the emphasis on conservation and strategic long-term planning reflects the city’s resolve to secure its water future. Residents and businesses are called upon to adapt to the new normal of water use, underlining the importance of collective action in safeguarding this essential resource for the city’s survival and growth.