Corpus Christi City Manager Peter Zanoni announced measures to extend the city's water supply, including state approval to continue drawing water from Lake Texana and a permit to utilize Nueces County wells, addressing concerns of a potential water emergency and state intervention due to water shortage.
Our reporting on all platforms will be truthful, transparent and respectful; our facts will be accurate, complete and fairly presented. When we make a mistake — and from time to time, we will — we will work quickly to fully address the error, correcting it within the story, detailing the error on the story page and adding it to this running list of Tribune corrections.
If you find an error, email Corpus Christi City Manager Peter Zanoni takes questions from reporters about the city's water situation at a press briefing on Mar. 20, 2026.CORPUS CHRISTI — City Manager Peter Zanoni announced two new developments on Friday that he said will help buy the city at least two more months before reaching a potential water emergency that would trigger limits for residents and businesses. The city got approval from the state earlier this week to continue pulling around 40 million gallons of water a day from Lake Texana, one of the city’s three main reservoirs, even if it falls below 50% — a level that normally triggers an automatic 10% reduction in the amount the city can pump. The special approval, Zanoni said, is critical for the city to continue providing water for its more than 317,000 residents. Additionally, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality gave the city a permit to pull water from wells in Nueces County. The city had already drilled four wells that were ready to pump as soon as they secured the permit.city leaders’ “lack of ability to make a decision” to solve the looming water shortage and threatened state intervention. Abbott then asked the TCEQ and the Lavaca-Navidad River Authority to fast-track permits and relax regulations to help the city quickly secure more water. These two developments will bring the city an additional 8 million gallons of water per day by the end of May, Zanoni said, calling them critical steps to help push back a“We have to get more water supply,” he said, adding that the city should have “two to three times” more water than they currently have on any given day., natural gas export terminals and other industrial facilities along Corpus Christi Bay has led the city to the edge of a historic water shortage. Two of the city’s three main reservoirs have shrunk to below 10% of capacity and the city projects they could run dry by May. That led to city projections that it could reach a water emergency — when the water supply is projected to last just 180 days — as early as May, which would trigger drastic water reduction efforts. With the approval to keep pulling large amounts of water from Lake Texana and the permit to operate the four additional wells, the city has pushed that to at least July, Zanoni said Friday.“Beginning about last fall, Lake Texana also now began moving into an extreme drought category, so there has been very little inflow into the reservoir,” he said, adding that the current drought “is probably going to be the drought of record — this thing is real bad.” The lake is currently at around 53% capacity, and Zanoni said the city expects it to drop to 50% in April, which would have triggered the 10% reduction that would mean about 4 million gallons less water per day for the city. With permission of state leaders and Abbott, the city can continue pulling water from it “for now” because of the city’s imminent water crisis, Zanoni said. “That will give us several months more supply at the full amount, helping us here in our drought,” Zanoni said. Zanoni also announced that the city has formed a 19-member advisory group that will work with a Round Rock-based consulting company, Spheros Environmental Group Parent Inc., to help the city develop long-term water plans.Texans need the truth. Help us report it. Independent Texas reporting needs your support. The Texas Tribune delivers fact-based journalism for Texans, by Texans — and our community of members, the readers who donate, make our work possible. Help us bring you and millions of others in-depth news and information. Will you support our nonprofit newsroom with a donation of any amount?Texans need the truth. Help us report it. Independent Texas reporting needs your support. The Texas Tribune delivers fact-based journalism for Texans, by Texans — and our community of members, the readers who donate, make our work possible. Help us bring you and millions of others in-depth news and information. Will you support our nonprofit newsroom with a donation of any amount?Colleen DeGuzman is a general assignments reporter. In addition to covering a broad range of topics, she focuses on immigration developments in the state. Before joining the newsroom, Colleen was an enterprise...
Water Crisis Corpus Christi Drought Water Supply Texas
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Corpus Christi Faces Potential Water Emergency Within Two MonthsCorpus Christi is bracing for a potential water emergency as early as May, according to new projections. The city is grappling with dwindling water supplies, drought conditions, and the absence of a finalized curtailment plan. Despite efforts to secure additional water resources, including accelerating drilling projects and attempting to revive a desalination plant, challenges persist, and the situation demands urgent action.
Read more »
Corpus Christi’s crucial refineries look for alternate water supplies amid looming water crisisThe city produces 5% of the nation’s refined products like gas and jet fuel, and experts say a serious water shortage could force production down and push fuel prices up even further.
Read more »
Water Crisis Threatens Fuel Supply in Corpus Christi as Refineries Seek AlternativesCorpus Christi refineries are working to secure alternative water sources due to a looming water crisis, raising concerns about gasoline and jet fuel shortages. The city faces dwindling water reserves and potential supply disruptions that could impact fuel prices across Texas.
Read more »
Corpus Christi's refineries look for alternate water supplies as water crisis loomsCompanies that own refineries in Corpus Christi say they are working to secure alternative water sources to maintain operations and prevent a shortage of gasoline and jet fuel in Texas and beyond as the city scrambles to delay or avoid a rapidly-escalating water crisis.
Read more »
Corpus Christi says two new developments will buy it more time before reaching water crisisThe city manager said the city received permits to pump more groundwater and will avoid water reductions from a shrinking reservoir for now, pushing a potential water crisis to July.
Read more »
Corpus Christi Secures Water Supply Extension, Pushes Back Potential EmergencyCorpus Christi City Manager announces measures to extend the city's water supply, delaying a potential water emergency. The city secured approvals to continue drawing water from Lake Texana and operate new wells, amidst a severe drought and low reservoir levels.
Read more »