What's going with the water in Corpus Christi

33,743 Views | 292 Replies | Last: 19 hrs ago by fc2112
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No Spin Ag said:

nortex97 said:

This Israeli company is going to build one somewhere in the RGV also. (Presumably, if it's desalinization near Corpus.)


I saw the city manager of Corpus last night talking about how this has been an issue they've been working on for years now, not wanting to affect the industry (I take it, "the companies are giving the city and state money") side of things while trying to make sure locals weren't affected.

There were people in Corpus whom they interviewed, one who was talking about not wanting to have to deal with water restrictions that they didn't cause. She said they were told that only being able to bathe every other day might be required. That's bizarre.

It makes one wonder if the people who brought the ExxonMobil and SABIC joint venture for Abbott to approve didn't do their due diligence to make sure the water needs wouldn't be a problem. That, or even if they did bring up the potential problems, it was far in the future and the money was more immediate and more important.



That's a common practice in water shortages though. Just a next step in managing water. Whole host of other practices in addition to that. We haven't been able to water our lawns, wash cars, or fill pools since 2024, already. Granted, some people still do so but will likely get fined for it.

We had the city call us once and threaten us with a $500 fine because our sprinklers were running early in the morning one day a week. I had turned them on to test something and forgot to turn them back off. That was a few months ago now. I still see dumbasses watering their lawns mid-day down here. They should get fined for not only breaking the restrictions but also for just being stupid to run sprinklers mid-day regardless of water shortages.
No Spin Ag
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YouBet said:

No Spin Ag said:

nortex97 said:

This Israeli company is going to build one somewhere in the RGV also. (Presumably, if it's desalinization near Corpus.)


I saw the city manager of Corpus last night talking about how this has been an issue they've been working on for years now, not wanting to affect the industry (I take it, "the companies are giving the city and state money") side of things while trying to make sure locals weren't affected.

There were people in Corpus whom they interviewed, one who was talking about not wanting to have to deal with water restrictions that they didn't cause. She said they were told that only being able to bathe every other day might be required. That's bizarre.

It makes one wonder if the people who brought the ExxonMobil and SABIC joint venture for Abbott to approve didn't do their due diligence to make sure the water needs wouldn't be a problem. That, or even if they did bring up the potential problems, it was far in the future and the money was more immediate and more important.



That's a common practice in water shortages though. Just a next step in managing water. Whole host of other practices in addition to that. We haven't been able to water our lawns, wash cars, or fill pools since 2024, already. Granted, some people still do so but will likely get fined for it.

We had the city call us once and threaten us with a $500 fine because our sprinklers were running early in the morning one day a week. I had turned them on to test something and forgot to turn them back off. That was a few months ago now. I still see dumbasses watering their lawns mid-day down here. They should get fined for not only breaking the restrictions but also for just being stupid to run sprinklers mid-day regardless of water shortages.

I'm with you on the fining of idiots who think they can skirt things.

I just feel for them because this shortage could have been averted, or at least wouldn't have happened, had the companies not come in. At least that's what I've seen/heard from people in the know down there.

Good luck to all in the area. I hope this is fixed sooner rather than later.
There are in fact two things, science and opinion; the former begets knowledge, the later ignorance. Hippocrates
YouBet
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AG
No Spin Ag said:

YouBet said:

No Spin Ag said:

nortex97 said:

This Israeli company is going to build one somewhere in the RGV also. (Presumably, if it's desalinization near Corpus.)


I saw the city manager of Corpus last night talking about how this has been an issue they've been working on for years now, not wanting to affect the industry (I take it, "the companies are giving the city and state money") side of things while trying to make sure locals weren't affected.

There were people in Corpus whom they interviewed, one who was talking about not wanting to have to deal with water restrictions that they didn't cause. She said they were told that only being able to bathe every other day might be required. That's bizarre.

It makes one wonder if the people who brought the ExxonMobil and SABIC joint venture for Abbott to approve didn't do their due diligence to make sure the water needs wouldn't be a problem. That, or even if they did bring up the potential problems, it was far in the future and the money was more immediate and more important.



That's a common practice in water shortages though. Just a next step in managing water. Whole host of other practices in addition to that. We haven't been able to water our lawns, wash cars, or fill pools since 2024, already. Granted, some people still do so but will likely get fined for it.

We had the city call us once and threaten us with a $500 fine because our sprinklers were running early in the morning one day a week. I had turned them on to test something and forgot to turn them back off. That was a few months ago now. I still see dumbasses watering their lawns mid-day down here. They should get fined for not only breaking the restrictions but also for just being stupid to run sprinklers mid-day regardless of water shortages.

I'm with you on the fining of idiots who think they can skirt things.

I just feel for them because this shortage could have been averted, or at least wouldn't have happened, had the companies not come in. At least that's what I've seen/heard from people in the know down there.

Good luck to all in the area. I hope this is fixed sooner rather than later.


I blame everyone for not planning ahead and thinking strategically but that is about the most common folly of man there is. No one thinks beyond a few months anymore about anything.

The city who owns and manages the water supply didn't consider basic supply and demand, industry has no accountability since they use residential water, local citizens for fear mongering solutions along the way. All parties to blame and it's going to lead to some very, very bad outcomes. I feel for the region because it's going to be an economic calamity.

Edit: wrong emoji
techno-ag
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nortex97 said:

This Israeli company is going to build one somewhere in the RGV also. (Presumably, if it's desalinization near Corpus.)


Good. The Israelis are world leaders in desalination technology.
The left cannot kill the Spirit of Charlie Kirk.
B-1 83
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No Spin Ag said:

YouBet said:

No Spin Ag said:

nortex97 said:

This Israeli company is going to build one somewhere in the RGV also. (Presumably, if it's desalinization near Corpus.)


I saw the city manager of Corpus last night talking about how this has been an issue they've been working on for years now, not wanting to affect the industry (I take it, "the companies are giving the city and state money") side of things while trying to make sure locals weren't affected.

There were people in Corpus whom they interviewed, one who was talking about not wanting to have to deal with water restrictions that they didn't cause. She said they were told that only being able to bathe every other day might be required. That's bizarre.

It makes one wonder if the people who brought the ExxonMobil and SABIC joint venture for Abbott to approve didn't do their due diligence to make sure the water needs wouldn't be a problem. That, or even if they did bring up the potential problems, it was far in the future and the money was more immediate and more important.



That's a common practice in water shortages though. Just a next step in managing water. Whole host of other practices in addition to that. We haven't been able to water our lawns, wash cars, or fill pools since 2024, already. Granted, some people still do so but will likely get fined for it.

We had the city call us once and threaten us with a $500 fine because our sprinklers were running early in the morning one day a week. I had turned them on to test something and forgot to turn them back off. That was a few months ago now. I still see dumbasses watering their lawns mid-day down here. They should get fined for not only breaking the restrictions but also for just being stupid to run sprinklers mid-day regardless of water shortages.

I'm with you on the fining of idiots who think they can skirt things.

I just feel for them because this shortage could have been averted, or at least wouldn't have happened, had the companies not come in. At least that's what I've seen/heard from people in the know down there.

Good luck to all in the area. I hope this is fixed sooner rather than later.

I "skirt" their rules by using a drip hose AND TIMER on my foundation. We can water flowerbeds and our foundations on our garbage pickup day every other week, and I can guarantee I'm more efficient than standing there with a spray nozzle squirting my foundation like the city specifies. If they go one more step in restrictions, I may have to pull all of that up so I don't get accused.
Being in TexAgs jail changes a man……..no, not really
txags92
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B-1 83 said:

No Spin Ag said:

YouBet said:

No Spin Ag said:

nortex97 said:

This Israeli company is going to build one somewhere in the RGV also. (Presumably, if it's desalinization near Corpus.)


I saw the city manager of Corpus last night talking about how this has been an issue they've been working on for years now, not wanting to affect the industry (I take it, "the companies are giving the city and state money") side of things while trying to make sure locals weren't affected.

There were people in Corpus whom they interviewed, one who was talking about not wanting to have to deal with water restrictions that they didn't cause. She said they were told that only being able to bathe every other day might be required. That's bizarre.

It makes one wonder if the people who brought the ExxonMobil and SABIC joint venture for Abbott to approve didn't do their due diligence to make sure the water needs wouldn't be a problem. That, or even if they did bring up the potential problems, it was far in the future and the money was more immediate and more important.



That's a common practice in water shortages though. Just a next step in managing water. Whole host of other practices in addition to that. We haven't been able to water our lawns, wash cars, or fill pools since 2024, already. Granted, some people still do so but will likely get fined for it.

We had the city call us once and threaten us with a $500 fine because our sprinklers were running early in the morning one day a week. I had turned them on to test something and forgot to turn them back off. That was a few months ago now. I still see dumbasses watering their lawns mid-day down here. They should get fined for not only breaking the restrictions but also for just being stupid to run sprinklers mid-day regardless of water shortages.

I'm with you on the fining of idiots who think they can skirt things.

I just feel for them because this shortage could have been averted, or at least wouldn't have happened, had the companies not come in. At least that's what I've seen/heard from people in the know down there.

Good luck to all in the area. I hope this is fixed sooner rather than later.

I "skirt" their rules by using a drip hose AND TIMER on my foundation. We can water flowerbeds and our foundations on our garbage pickup day every other week, and I can guarantee I'm more efficient than standing there with a spray nozzle squirting my foundation like the city specifies. If they go one more step in restrictions, I may have to pull all of that up so I don't get accused.


Just plant some tomatoes and peppers along your foundation. Then you are watering vegetables grown for food, not your foundation, which is exempt.
Z3phyr
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https://waterdatafortexas.org/reservoirs/individual/corpus-christi

Lake Corpus Christi up to 9.9% from lows of around 7.9%. Rain the past week helped a lot but still a long way to go.
American Hardwood
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schmellba99 said:

Lola68 said:

I'm referring to all of the protests to the selling of groundwater to Corpus. There was unsubstantiated allegations made by the proponents of dsal that has been picked up by the surrounding towns (Sinton) that somehow Corpus' use of groundwater would harm other users. This is not what the actual evidence suggests.

Ehh, it depends on what you call harm, the volume of water, etc.

Subsidence is a real thing, and along the coast when the land subsides it doesn't come back up. We don't have rock formations that support the land like the hill country does, so when the aquifer is drawn down the land actually sinks and once that happens, it's a done deal.

Now, the speed of the subsidence can be controlled if the aquifer isn't pumped faster than it can recharge. You can also end up with a subsidence district, which is just another level of government to deal with.

I think Houston is the fastest sinking city right now. Keep in mind that is a relative term. I can tell you that it is a real problem in the Phoenix region. Luke AFB has sank over 20 feet since it first started operations back in the early 1900's. That's a lot.

Lola68 is exactly correct in the description of the campaigning against groundwater.

Subsidence was a problem in Houston because of unregulated pumping and wellfield density. The Evangeline well field is significantly much less dense.
American Hardwood
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Ag with kids said:

Kenneth_2003 said:

Broseph said:

Any of this rain going to help Lake CC or Choke Canyon?


Not even putting a trickle into the rivers.



*****..

I rained right on top of them a few days ago...

I pay more attention to the rainfall reports in Pearsall and Uvalde than I do Mathis. We need flood level rains in the watershed, not directly over the lakes, not that I wouldn't take that too.
Ag87H2O
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American Hardwood said:

schmellba99 said:

Lola68 said:

I'm referring to all of the protests to the selling of groundwater to Corpus. There was unsubstantiated allegations made by the proponents of dsal that has been picked up by the surrounding towns (Sinton) that somehow Corpus' use of groundwater would harm other users. This is not what the actual evidence suggests.

Ehh, it depends on what you call harm, the volume of water, etc.

Subsidence is a real thing, and along the coast when the land subsides it doesn't come back up. We don't have rock formations that support the land like the hill country does, so when the aquifer is drawn down the land actually sinks and once that happens, it's a done deal.

Now, the speed of the subsidence can be controlled if the aquifer isn't pumped faster than it can recharge. You can also end up with a subsidence district, which is just another level of government to deal with.

I think Houston is the fastest sinking city right now. Keep in mind that is a relative term. I can tell you that it is a real problem in the Phoenix region. Luke AFB has sank over 20 feet since it first started operations back in the early 1900's. That's a lot.

Lola68 is exactly correct in the description of the campaigning against groundwater.

Subsidence was a problem in Houston because of unregulated pumping and wellfield density. The Evangeline well field is significantly much less dense.


Exactly right. Subsidence in Harris and Galveston Counties was a huge problem from the 1940s to the early 1980s. The City of Houston water supply was almost entirely from groundwater, and there were a massive number of large wells along the ship channel and in the refineries that pumped 24/7. The Subsidence District was formed in the mid 70s to deal with the problem and now the city water supply is primarily treated surface water, and most of the big industrial wells along the ship channel have either been abandoned and plugged, or are heavily restricted as to how much can be pumped out of the ground. Water levels have actually come back up in some areas of central Harris County and areas east of town, but the land elevation never recovers.

Now the larger areas of concern are in west and northwest Harris County, and northern Fort Bend County where the rapid growth has occurred over the past 20 years.
techno-ag
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Ag87H2O said:

American Hardwood said:

schmellba99 said:

Lola68 said:

I'm referring to all of the protests to the selling of groundwater to Corpus. There was unsubstantiated allegations made by the proponents of dsal that has been picked up by the surrounding towns (Sinton) that somehow Corpus' use of groundwater would harm other users. This is not what the actual evidence suggests.

Ehh, it depends on what you call harm, the volume of water, etc.

Subsidence is a real thing, and along the coast when the land subsides it doesn't come back up. We don't have rock formations that support the land like the hill country does, so when the aquifer is drawn down the land actually sinks and once that happens, it's a done deal.

Now, the speed of the subsidence can be controlled if the aquifer isn't pumped faster than it can recharge. You can also end up with a subsidence district, which is just another level of government to deal with.

I think Houston is the fastest sinking city right now. Keep in mind that is a relative term. I can tell you that it is a real problem in the Phoenix region. Luke AFB has sank over 20 feet since it first started operations back in the early 1900's. That's a lot.

Lola68 is exactly correct in the description of the campaigning against groundwater.

Subsidence was a problem in Houston because of unregulated pumping and wellfield density. The Evangeline well field is significantly much less dense.


Exactly right. Subsidence in Harris and Galveston Counties was a huge problem from the 1940s to the early 1980s. The City of Houston water supply was almost entirely from groundwater, and there were a massive number of large wells along the ship channel and in the refineries that pumped 24/7. The Subsidence District was formed in the mid 70s to deal with the problem and now the city water supply is primarily treated surface water, and most of the big industrial wells along the ship channel have either been abandoned and plugged, or are heavily restricted as to how much can be pumped out of the ground. Water levels have actually come back up in some areas of central Harris County and areas east of town, but the land elevation never recovers.

Now the larger areas of concern are in west and northwest Harris County, and northern Fort Bend County where the rapid growth has occurred over the past 20 years.
Username checks out.
The left cannot kill the Spirit of Charlie Kirk.
knoxtom
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UAS Ag said:

YouBet said:

Z3phyr said:

I believe your math is if the lake has no grading. The top layer is going to have the most area. This website is easier to see how bad it is: https://waterdatafortexas.org/reservoirs/individual/corpus-christi

Thanks. Interpreting this to mean a loss of ~20 more feet and you are at dead pool. Dead pool is 55.50 feet.

Conservation Pool is 94 feet which I assume means a minimum level for "sustainability".

Guessing based on context though.

Meh...

My Dad's lake is down 87 feet. It's 3.9% full.

There is no lake that is worse in TX...

Medina Lake Canyon...



When Medina Lake gets over 1064.5 feet it goes over the spillway and fills Mexican Creek below, which is far and away the best whitewater kayaking in the state. Its a hoot. Back in 2005 and 2006 that run went for months. I heard it ran briefly in 2016 or thereabouts. Used to paddle across the lake, climb down the spillway, then run laps on it. You had to walk back up on the side of the cliff holding your boat and gear so that you didn't have to drive back up and paddle the lake again. Such a great time.

I doubt that lake will ever fill again


fc2112
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knoxtom said:

UAS Ag said:

YouBet said:

Z3phyr said:

I believe your math is if the lake has no grading. The top layer is going to have the most area. This website is easier to see how bad it is: https://waterdatafortexas.org/reservoirs/individual/corpus-christi

Thanks. Interpreting this to mean a loss of ~20 more feet and you are at dead pool. Dead pool is 55.50 feet.

Conservation Pool is 94 feet which I assume means a minimum level for "sustainability".

Guessing based on context though.

Meh...

My Dad's lake is down 87 feet. It's 3.9% full.

There is no lake that is worse in TX...

Medina Lake Canyon...



When Medina Lake gets over 1064.5 feet it goes over the spillway and fills Mexican Creek below, which is far and away the best whitewater kayaking in the state. Its a hoot. Back in 2005 and 2006 that run went for months. I heard it ran briefly in 2016 or thereabouts. Used to paddle across the lake, climb down the spillway, then run laps on it. You had to walk back up on the side of the cliff holding your boat and gear so that you didn't have to drive back up and paddle the lake again. Such a great time.

I doubt that lake will ever fill again




Medina Lake now at 3.9%.

Palo Duro is at 0.4%, which is effectively empty.
 
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