Corpus Christi, Texas, could implement emergency water measures in two months, according to officials.
Nick Winkelmann, interim chief operating officer of Corpus Christi Water, said at a city council meeting that there could be a level one water emergency by May, The Texas Tribune reported. This scenario is triggered when the city’s water supplies are estimated to be around 180 days away from running out.
Newsweek reached out to the City of Corpus Christi for comment outside of normal business hours.
Why It Matters
A water emergency in Corpus Christi could have wide-ranging effects, including the need for residents to limit water use and potential impacts on local industries and services.
The potential collapse of the city’s water infrastructure also highlights broader water insecurity in rural Texas amid drought.
What To Know
Lake Corpus Christi, one of the city’s major sources of water, has dropped below 10 percent capacity, its lowest level on record, amid an ongoing yearslong drought. According to the city government’s modeling, there are 340 days until a level one water emergency and 520 days until supplies in the Western reservoir system reach 0 percent.
Earlier this month, officials declared a water emergency in Pflugerville, Texas, a city about 20 miles north-northeast of Austin, after a pipeline failure that feeds water into Lake Pflugerville caused water levels to reach historic lows.
Meanwhile, in a recent release, the City of Corpus Christi said it had invested some $1 billion in solutions to the water.
“The City of Corpus Christi will continue to prioritize the long-term security of our water system and will always provide our residents with the full story,” the statement read.
What People Are Saying
City Manager Peter Zanoni told the Corpus Christi City Council: “If we get to the point where we have to declare a level one water emergency, we need to be ready for that and we have no precedent to follow and we have no there’s no manual, there’s no video, there’s no, ‘This is how we did it the last time.'”
A spokesperson for Texas Governor Greg Abbott, Andrew Mahaleris, told multiple media outlets: “Corpus Christi is an important economic driver not only for Texas but also the nation. The State of Texas has made significant investments into ensuring the Corpus Christi area has the water resources it needs to serve citizens and industry alike.”
What Happens Next
Water officials said they would have more information as additional data becomes available in the coming weeks.
In a polarized era, the center is dismissed as bland. At Newsweek, ours is different: The Courageous Center—it’s not “both sides,” it’s sharp, challenging and alive with ideas. We follow facts, not factions. If that sounds like the kind of journalism you want to see thrive, we need you.
When you become a Newsweek Member, you support a mission to keep the center strong and vibrant. Members enjoy: Ad-free browsing, exclusive content and editor conversations. Help keep the center courageous. Join today.
