Brand & Media Hub 
02/15/2025
Here an analysis of the Corpus Christi Drought Contingency Plan (DCP):
1. Document Overview
- Title: Drought Contingency Plan
- Revision Date: February 11, 2025
- Entity: Corpus Christi Water, serving the Coastal Bend region.
2. Introduction
- Purpose:
-- To conserve water during droughts by reducing demand.
-- To minimize the adverse effects of water shortages.
-- To manage drought conditions systematically.
-- To protect public health, safety, and welfare.
- Key Components:
-- Uses combined storage levels from Choke Canyon Reservoir and Lake Corpus Christi to trigger drought stages.
-- Includes supplementary water from Lake Texana and the Colorado River, though these are junior water rights.
-- Differentiates from the Water Conservation Plan (WCP) by being reactive to drought conditions rather than proactive for general conservation.
3. Drought Stages and Triggers
- Water Shortage Watch:
-- Trigger: Combined storage below 50%.
-- Action: Voluntary conservation; reduction target of 5%.
- Stage 1 - Mild Water Shortage:
-- Trigger: Combined storage below 40%.
-- Action: Mandatory restrictions; target 10% reduction. Includes limiting landscape irrigation to once per week.
- Stage 2 - Moderate Water Shortage:
-- Trigger: Combined storage below 30%.
-- Action: Further restrictions; target 20% reduction. Irrigation limited to once every other week, surcharges introduced for excess use.
- Stage 3 - Critical Water Shortage:
-- Trigger: Combined storage below 20%.
-- Action: Severe restrictions; target 30% or more reduction. Bans on landscape irrigation, higher surcharges.
- Stage 4 - Water Emergency:
-- Trigger: Determined by the City Manager based on emergencies like major system failures or contamination.
-- Action: Drastic measures with a target of 50% or greater reduction. Absolute prohibition on most water uses.
4. Public Notification
- Methods: Website, local newspapers, utility bills, public service announcements, signs, and social media.
5. Best Management Practices per Stage
- Water Shortage Watch: Voluntary measures, educational campaigns.
- Stage 1: Increased repair crews, public education, restrictions on watering times.
- Stage 2: Main flushing eliminated except for safety, compliance monitoring, and public education.
- Stage 3: Disconnection for violators, further restrictions on usage, public education intensified.
- Stage 4: Emergency response, including alternative water sources or delivery methods.
6. Surcharges and Enforcement
- Surcharges: Applied to usage over specified allocations to deter discretionary use, escalating with each stage.
- Enforcement:
-- Fines for violations.
-- Potential disconnection of water service for repeated offenses.
-- Surcharges increase with each stage, with specific rates for different customer types (residential, commercial, industrial, wholesale).
7. Exemptions and Variances
- Process: Requests must be submitted within 5 days of stage initiation, reviewed by the Chief Operating Officer or designee.
- Criteria: Based on public health, safety, or unnecessary hardship due to compliance with restrictions.
8. Coordination and Legal Compliance
- Regional Planning: Coordination with Coastal Bend Regional Water Planning Area (Region N).
- Legal: Adheres to Texas Administrative Code and TCEQ guidelines, ensuring eligibility for state funding for drought response.
9. Wholesale Drought Contingency Plan
- Similar Structure: Applies similar stages and triggers but focuses on wholesale water suppliers, ensuring they implement comparable restrictions for their customers.
10. Appendices
- Legal Documents: Includes the ordinance adopting the DCP, agreements, and operational plans for reservoir management.
This DCP serves as a comprehensive framework for managing water resources during droughts, involving detailed procedures, legal compliance, and public engagement to ensure sustainable water use in the Corpus Christi area.
Source:
https://www.corpuschristitx.gov/media/rovbmnx5/wat-drought-contingency-plan.pdf
The City of Corpus Christi and Corpus Christi Water are hosting a Listening Session on proposed updates to the Drought Contingency Plan (DCP) on Tuesday, February 18, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers.
The program will begin with a short presentation of the updates, followed by a brief summary. Community members will have the opportunity to provide public comments. Speakers can sign in at the kiosk in the City Hall Atrium. The sign-in period will be available between 2:30 and 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 18.
Learn more about this Listening Session: https://cctx.info/listening-session
