Corpus Christi will run out of water if it does not find new water sources outside of the western watershed. That’s according to new research from 3NEWS, interviews with leading experts and scientists, as well as data from the city and state.
Over the past 15 years, our consumption averages 153% of the available water coming into our western watershed—Choke Canyon Reservoir and Lake Corpus Christi. Anything over 100% that’s not offset from our eastern supplies drains our lakes.
The following is the most comprehensive look at our current water situation. Research from 3NEWS Weather Impact meteorologists and reporters will show the following:
- At current consumption levels and without new water sources, Corpus Christi risks running out of water
- Evaporation is a far bigger problem than previously reported since 96% of Nueces County’s water comes from surface water
- Mandatory water releases stopped in March 2024, but prior to that they averaged nearly 80,000 ac-ft/yr (acre-feet per year)
- Drought is far from the lone cause of our current water situation, and the 2011 drought was significantly worse than our current drought
- Despite water scarcity concerns following the 2011 drought, Corpus Christi agreed to new water contracts with large-scale industrial water consumers
- Industrial consumption continues to rise even as municipal consumption falls
The City of Corpus Christi’s own projections indicate our area will fall below 10% combined lake levels by November and both Choke Canyon and Lake Corpus Christi will be without water by April 2027.
At that time, Corpus Christi would not be able to meet the city’s water needs.
i gotta say…if i lived in Corpus Christi, I would be panicking if I read this headline. Like I would immediately start planning a move.
Or they could do the smart thing and ration the industrial supply, but that would offend the money.
