Green Junction - The Hidden Water Cost of Industrial Growth

Quality of life and modernization depend upon adequate sources of water. In Corpus Christi, Texas, the city’s half million residents and its industries are facing a looming depletion of the water supplies. Industrial users, mostly the energy/petrochemical industry that relies on water for cooling systems and generating steam, consume as much as 70 to 80 percent of the area water. City officials believe the area is set to reach a Level 1 drought emergency by September, defined as a situation where water demand outpaces its supply for 180 days. It is proposing a 5,250-gallon a month allotment for residents. It is tricky to require water reductions for industrial processes.

Corpus Christi relies on surface water from Lake Corpus Christi and Choke Canyon Reservoir. A year ago, Lake Corpus Christi was 21% full and today it is 8.7% full. In response to reservoir shortages last fall, the city of Corpus Christi started pumping millions of gallons of water per day from aquifers – ground water. Many landowners in nearby towns experienced drops in water levels in their wells. Industries also began drilling. As more ground water is removed, the remaining water changes and can become brackish water, which is too “salty” to drink. Then it requires expensive treatment. It was reported that the new, massive plastics plant operated by ExxonMobil and the Saudi state oil company, possibly the region’s largest water user, drilled and found the ground water that was too salty to use.

Over the past 15 years, Corpus Christ approved industrial growth that required huge amounts of water.  The area has experienced five years in a row of record heat and drought. Many experts view the current crisis as poor planning over many years. Corpus Christi is a major supplier of critical fuel products, such as jet fuel, for a number of areas. Water is required to continue these industrial processes. Water is also required for life.