Frustrated Corpus Christi residents showed up for a Feb. 18 listening session hosted by the Corpus Christi water department to hear about proposed updates to the city’s drought plan and voice their concerns over water usage, particularly regarding high-volume water use by out-of-town industries.

While the session was intended to gather input on drought management, the majority of speakers voiced frustration with the city’s ongoing relationship with major out-of-town industries that use large quantities of water. They argued that these industries, such as Gulf Coast Growth Ventures, Flint Hills, and Valero, are allowed to consume a large share of the city’s water supply, while locals are left to bear the costs.

Isabel Araiza, co-founder of For the Greater Good, expressed her concerns about this imbalance. “The drought exemption needs to end now,” she said. “We created a petition in our group. I know most of you all watch our page, so I know you’re familiar with it. We have 586 signatures from people in the community who say they want the drought exemption to end. We need a measurable, quantifiable trigger.”

Araiza’s remarks echoed the frustrations of many residents who feel that the city is prioritizing the needs of out-of-town industries, who promise economic benefits, over the needs of residents.

“The local residents are paying for a portion of the water being used by these industries, yet we don’t even use half of what they do,” Araiza continued. “We need the city to focus on our needs — the needs of the community — not on pleasing industries that are extracting resources for profit.”

The city’s primary water sources are Choke Canyon Reservoir and Lake Corpus Christi, referred to as the Western Reservoir system. These two reservoirs are closely monitored, and their combined measurements are used to trigger drought stages. In addition, the city purchases water from Lake Texana and the Colorado River, although the city holds junior water rights, meaning those rights may be shrink by senior holders.

“The effort to monitor our lake levels and reservoir levels should be directed at high-volume water users and made public,” Araiza added, “We need to see what these companies are doing in terms of their consumption, especially when local residents are being asked to conserve with no significant impact on the real issue.”

District 1 resident, Beth Zurick, spoke on her own frustrations about how the resident’s voices are being recorded but not fully heard.

“I suspect these meetings are being held to check off a box for a public meeting requirement somewhere. Once these meetings have been completed, council can them implement a plan that would move forward where industry continues to be prioritized, and citizens will lose once again.”

The calls for accountability came in response to the growing concern that the city has been too lenient in allowing large industries to take most available water, at the expense of residents.

“Water for us is for life — for sanitation, for safety,” Araiza said, “Water for them is for profit. We need the city to recognize the difference and act accordingly.”

Several speakers, in line with Araiza’s concerns, called on local officials to reconsider their approach and refocus on the priorities of residents.

“We also need to speak about how we’re recruiting all these high-volume water users,” Araiza concluded, “Because you’re just going to keep putting us in the same problem over and over again.”

In response to the feedback, Mayor Paulette Guajardo reiterated the city’s focus on its broader economic goals.

“It’s not about how many people spoke, but making sure they feel heard,” Guajardo said, “At the end of the day, we make decisions based on the voices of all our constituents, not just those in the room, but everyone who reaches out to us. It’s important that people are heard, even if there’s a majority.”

The full meeting can be viewed on the City of Corpus Christi’s YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4V1fm479y3U.