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Corpus Christi lake levels fell below 30 percent Thursday. Why aren't we in Stage 2 drought restrictions?

Corpus Christi City Manager Peter Zanoni said the call to enact Stage 2 is being delayed since rain is expected next week.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Corpus Christi City Manager Peter Zanoni announced Thursday that the city's combined water storage has dropped below the 30-percent threshold which would typically enact the Stage 2 moderate water restrictions.

However, since there are high chances of rain next week, the city has decided to temporarily delay the restrictions until it can measure the rainfall from that event.

In the news conference Thursday Zanoni said the city is looking at two rain systems, predicting the first will saturate the soil and is not likely to fill reservoirs, but the second may fill reservoirs can could even fill them past 30 percent.

"Today we're not calling stage 2 water restrictions for the reason that there is a very good indication we're going to see some measurable rain in two events that will not only stabilize the level close to that 29, 30 percent, but also may bring it up a little bit beyond the 30," Zanoni said.

To view the news conference click here

The city hasn't enacted Stage 2 restrictions since 2015.

Interim Corpus Christi Water COO Drew Molly said Corpus Christi has only enacted State 2 restrictions three times before: in 1996, 2001 and 2015.

The primary change for residents, businesses and local institutions when Stage 2 is enacted is that the yard watering schedule changes from once weekly to once every other week.

If levels continue to fall with those restrictions in place, Zanoni could add a surcharge for taxpayers. This move would require city council approval.

Stage 3 is triggered when the lake levels fall below 20 percent.

Zanoni said looking ahead, the city is pursuing several additional water sources including a seawater desalination plant for the inner harbor.

"It would be 2027 when the plant would be fully operational," he said during the press briefing.

On Tuesday, city council members will decide on several agenda items worth millions of dollars that would benefit that effort.

"It's done all over the world, there's over 20,000 seawater desal plants all over the world.  We've got some good folks who have looked at this from a planning perspective merely from the fact that it is a very reliable source of water and provides quality drinking water," Molly said when discussing water options with 3NEWS after the press briefing.

If the expected rain doesn't raise water levels, Stage 2 water restrictions could go into effect as soon as next week.

Just last week the City of Alice entered Stage 2 water restrictions which has limited residents' water usage for watering their lawns and washing their cars to two days a week.

This is a developing story stay with 3NEWS for more information as it becomes available.

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