By Jim Utter
Director of Journalism
The adoption of tighter water restrictions due to ongoing drought conditions in Corpus Christi, Texas, have left residents with commercial car washes as their only option to keep their cars clean.
Last week, Corpus Christi City Manager Peter Zanoni announced that Stage 3 water restrictions had taken effect in the coastal city of more than 300,000 residents.
The City’s Drought Contingency Plan authorizes the city manager to declare Stage 3 when the city’s combined lake levels drop below 20% capacity, which happened on Dec. 11. As of mid-December, the combined levels for the city’s primary water source, Lake Corpus Christi and Choke Canyon Reservoirs, were at 19.9%.
The water restrictions apply to all Corpus Christi homeowners, apartment buildings, institutional facilities such as schools and churches, city properties, commercial businesses, and industry.
Under Stage 3 water restrictions, the irrigation of landscaped areas, including all outdoor watering, even with a handheld hose, is prohibited at all times. In addition, the use of water to wash motor vehicles, motorbikes, boats, trailers, or any other type of recreational vehicle is prohibited.
However, under Stage 3, commercial car wash businesses are allowed to continue to operate, giving car owners their only option for keeping their vehicles clean.
In addition, filling swimming pools is still permitted and watering to maintain the integrity of a building foundation is still permitted.
Warnings are being issued for violators through the end of December. Citations will begin on Jan.1, 2025.
In early December, city departments proactively began reducing their water use by stopping or reducing non-essential outside landscape irrigation at city facility grounds.
“I want to thank the community for their understanding and cooperation during this critical time,” Zanoni said. “Every drop counts. Let’s work together to protect our most vital resource and ensure a stable water future for Corpus Christi.”
A three-month outlook published by the National Weather Service shows much of Texas, including the Corpus Christi area, will experience above-average temperatures and below-average rainfall through February.
