The date of a potential water emergency in Corpus Christi has again been pushed back — this time, by roughly a year compared to projections announced two months ago.
In April, it had been believed a water emergency could arrive in September.
In May, after storms dropped welcome rain, that was updated to December.
It is now believed that a water emergency could potentially come to pass in September 2027, according to a June 23 message sent by City Manager Peter Zanoni.
Since the last projection, significant rains have boosted the levels of Lake Corpus Christi and Lake Texana.
Lake Corpus Christi was measured at nearly 31% as of June 23 and Lake Texana at nearly 100%, according to state data.
Comparatively, Lake Corpus Christi was recorded at about 9% three months ago and Lake Texana at about 53%, it shows.
Choke Canyon remains virtually unchanged by the rains, standing at about 8.7%, according to state data.
It is expected that Nick Winkelmann, chief operating officer of Corpus Christi Water, will discuss further the projected date of a water emergency in the June 23 City Council meeting, according to Zanoni’s message.
A presentation posted in the City Council agenda documents online shows assumptions of the new September 2027 date as including inflows of about 10,000 acre feet of water through the end of the year; continued pumping of the Nueces County groundwater wells; industrial effluent use coming online; lower demand from Alice, Mathis and Beeville’s new water programs; and curtailment of water contracted through Lake Texana in May 2027.
City data shows the combined capacity of the city’s two prime water sources, Lake Corpus Christi and Choke Canyon Reservoir, at about 15%.
The presentation shows a comparison of the reservoirs’ capacity across different frames of time: 50% in March 2022, 40% in July 2023, 30% in March 2024 and 20% in December 2025.
The city remains under Stage 3 drought and will until the combined capacity of Lake Corpus Christi and Choke Canyon Reservoir reaches 30%.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Kirsten Crow covers city government and water news. Have a story idea? Contact her at kirsten.crow@caller.com.
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This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Potential water emergency in Corpus Christi pushed back well into 2027
Reporting by Kirsten Crow, Corpus Christi Caller Times / Corpus Christi Caller Times
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Kirsten Crow, Corpus Christi Caller Times | USA TODAY Network
