Corpus Christi officials warn of possible curtailment as reservoirs fall; multiple projects aim to add supply
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Summary
City water officials told the City Council that Lake Texana could fall below 50% as early as April, a trigger that would force a 10% supply cut for its customers. Staff outlined Evangeline groundwater, expanded well fields, effluent reuse and a potential desalination option as the city races to add tens of millions of gallons per day.
City water officials warned the City Council on Jan. 13 that regional reservoir inflows remain dangerously low and that Lake Texana could fall below 50% as soon as April, a threshold that triggers mandatory cutbacks for all customers the lake serves.
The city’s water chief said the city’s “Level 1” drought‑emergency threshold remains November 2026, but the Lake Texana forecast has tightened the window for action. Nick Winkelman, interim chief operating officer for Corpus Christi Water, told council the eastern reservoirs already supply the bulk of the city’s water and the western reservoirs’ inflows remain insufficient. He said staff is pursuing several projects in parallel to add capacity.
Why it matters: falling below 50% at Lake Texana prompts a mandatory 10% reduction by the Lavaca‑Navidad River Authority for its customers, including industrial users and the city. If rains fail in key months the city could face curtailment sooner than November, staff said.
What officials presented: council heard timelines and risks for several supply options: - Evangeline groundwater project: a water‑rights and production program permitted for up to 24 million gallons per day (MGD); drilling permits are under review by the San Patricio Groundwater Conservation District and a public hearing is forecast for Feb. 6. Staff said timely approval is critical to meet a partial‑delivery target in November 2026. - Western and Eastern well fields: the Eastern Well Field is operational; the Western Well Field is being readied (multiple wells drilled; permanent power and pumps are being installed) with an initial target to be fully operational in spring 2026. - Effluent reuse: Valero agreed to fund conveyance and make reclaimed water available under a 30‑year contract. The arrangement begins with about 3 MGD and could scale to 8 MGD, and staff said Valero will design, construct and deliver conveyance infrastructure that will be conveyed to the city after acceptance. - Inner Harbor desalination: the city is working with a developer consortium; staff expects the developer to present price‑and‑option packages for council consideration in February. Staff said a far‑field ocean‑modeling study is being scoped and a citizen advisory committee will review modeling results aimed for April.
Next steps and tradeoffs: city staff urged council that multiple projects — groundwater, reuse and desal — will be needed to close a remaining shortfall estimated in the tens of millions of gallons per day; staff also warned that if conservation and new supplies do not materialize, curtailment could be triggered earlier. Staff pledged weekly updates on Lake Texana and to return contract and procurement items for council approval as permitting and design move forward.
The city asked residents to treat the briefing as a call to action: there are two seasonal windows for meaningful rainfall before the November trigger and the council and staff say they are working on a multi‑path strategy that combines conservation, industrial agreements, groundwater projects and treatment options.
