US EditionCorpus Christi Water Emergency May Be Just Two Months Away, City Leaders Say
Weekly briefings will update residents on efforts and new models showing a potential Level 1 water emergency by May, requiring a 25% reduction in water use, city officials said.
- City Manager Peter Zanoni will begin hosting weekly briefings on Friday, March 20, at 10 a.m., streamed live on CCTVCorpusChristi to update residents on long-term water efforts.
- New city modeling presented at a March 17, 2026 City Council briefing shows scenarios that could trigger a Level 1 Water Emergency as soon as May, factoring in low reservoir levels and drought forecasts.
- The council approved funding and contracts to advance construction, earmarking nearly $190 million and a $187,876,831 contract amendment for the Evangeline Groundwater Project, now estimated at $665.2 million with 24 wells producing about 24 million gallons per day.
- Gov. Greg Abbott directed state agencies to fast-track temporary permits and ordered the Lavaca-Navidad River Authority to change its drought trigger to 40%, buying Corpus Christi time but risking supply disruptions.
- Staff say more information will be available within two weeks, and permitting disputes could delay the Evangeline project by up to two years, depending on permit approvals for four groundwater well fields.
24 Articles
24 Articles
Can Evangeline prevent a water emergency? Models suggest it could be a long shot
The City Council voted Tuesday to pour another $187 million into the Evangeline Groundwater Project, with City Manager Peter Zanoni calling it "the only thing right now that will keep us out of a Level 1 water emergency."But newly released water supply modeling suggests that even under the best circumstances, the project alone may not be enough.Corpus Christi Water interim COO Nick Winkelmann presented six models projecting the city's water futu…
San Antonio Express-News
Corpus Christi water emergency may be just two months away
Corpus Christi leaders on Tuesday unveiled new projections suggesting that the city could be just two months away from triggering emergency water measures.
Corpus Christi could enter water emergency level as early as May
The city of Corpus Christi could enter a water emergency as soon as May, according to a city document that breaks down five possible water predictions in the coming months. A water emergency declaration could lead to surcharges and water reductions that would impact roughly 500,000 people and the energy industry in the region.
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