January 2023
While there was substantial improvement in August 2022, Stage 1 of the region’s mandatory water conservation Drought Contingency Plan remains in effect as water supply reservoir levels continue to decline.
That means that residential lawn watering is restricted to once per week. Local cities and water corporations are responsible for designating watering days for each residence in their jurisdiction.
Communities in San Patricio and Aransas Counties were in severe to extreme drought conditions at the end of June.
Late summer rainfall returned the combined capacity at Lake Corpus Christi and Choke Canyon Reservoir to 49%. Lake levels began to decline at the end of September. As manager of the region's water supply system, the City of Corpus Christi initiated Stage 1 of the region's conservation plan on June 14. Reservoir levels have made it unnecessary to move to Stage 2 restrictions, as had been likely during the summer.
The drought management restrictions adopted by the City of Corpus Christi apply to all customers of the regional system including those provided water through the San Patricio Municipal Water District. The Water District and local cities providing water to residents are required by contract to adopt a Drought Contingency Plan that is at least as restrictive as the plan adopted by the City.
STAGE 1 – MILD WATER SHORTAGE WATCH
Conservation actions now in effect include:
- Residents can water landscaped areas with hose-end sprinklers or automatic irrigation systems once a week before 10 a.m. and after 6 p.m.
- Hand watering is allowed on any day using a shut off nozzle.
- Foundations can be watered once a week with a hose or drip irrigation.
- During Stage 1, commercial car washes and landscape nurseries are not impacted.
Residents are also encouraged to avoid water run-off on streets and sidewalks, check for water leaks and wash full loads in your laundry and dishwasher.
Stage 1 – Mild Water Shortage Watch
The District’s Drought Contingency Plan was updated in 2019 and the entire plan can be reviewed [HERE]. Stage 1 restrictions remain in place until combined Choke Canyon Reservoir/Lake Corpus Christi (CCR/LCC) levels return to at least 50% of capacity. .
SPMWD customers include the cities of Odem, Taft, Gregory, Portland, Ingleside, Ingleside-on-the-Bay, Aransas Pass, Rockport, Rincon Water Supply Corp., Seaboard Water Supply Corp., Nueces County WCID 4 and several industrial customers.
