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Corpus Christi considers a new Level One water emergency draft with fines up to $500 for daily violations
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Corpus Christi city leaders are reviewing a draft plan that could significantly change how residents use water at home to protect the city’s supply against drought conditions.
If a Level One water emergency is declared, the proposed draft outlines immediate restrictions for residents, including prohibitions on washing vehicles and watering lawns. Violations would be classified as a Class C misdemeanor, carrying fines of up to $500 per violation, per day.
The proposal comes as data shows an increasing number of people moving to Corpus Christi.
Under the draft plan, using city water to wash cars, boats, or other vehicles would be prohibited. The only exception is the maintenance flushing of motorboat engines. Residents wishing to wash vehicles would need to use alternative sources, such as rainwater or well water.
Yard maintenance would also be impacted. While watering small potted plants would be permitted, general landscaping and watering lawns would not be allowed.
From the Texas Tribune
The water department’s recommendations include adding surcharges to customers’ water bills if they use more than a set amount. For example, the city’s 91,000 residential customers would have to pay an additional$4 for every 1,000 gallons they use after hitting a 7,000-gallon monthly threshold — which 13% of customers currently surpass. Commercial customers, such as hotels and restaurants, would have to pay the same surcharge after using 55,000 gallons per month.
Some council members on Tuesday asked if the city could consider basing thresholds on customers’ baseline water use, instead of a set limit across the board.
The city is also planning on reducing operating hours of city pools and splash pads, which council member Eric Cantu said is “the wrong direction to take.”
“We have an issue here in Corpus Christi with gun violence with children, and I think we need to keep our children at safe places,” Cantu said. “I think that’s just out of line. It’s not the family’s fault. It’s not the resident’s fault that we’re in this situation.”
Council member Carolyn Vaughn disagreed.
“It’s not going to be pretty, what we’re going to have to do, we don’t want to do it but everybody’s going to have to make sacrifices,” she said.
Splash pads require around 300 gallons a day and the city’s pools use up around 1.8 million gallons throughout the summer, according to city officials.
Praying for Rain
