Tag Archives: towns

Southern Texas Towns Face Water Challenges

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Small towns in South Texas are urgently seeking alternative drinking water sources as persistent droughts threaten to deplete their main supply.

Mattis City typically relies on Lake Corpus Christi for its drinking water; however, the intensifying drought is projected to drop levels too low for safe extraction, according to Cedric Davis from the city.

“It’s not about completely running out of water,” said Davis. “It’s just challenging to access clean water from the lake, as the extraction process brings up sediment.”

That sediment can harm urban filtration and treatment systems, he noted. According to 2020 data from the US Census Bureau, Mattis has a population of approximately 4,300.

The situation in Texas underscores the escalating challenges faced in drought-affected areas nationwide, as climate change alters rainfall patterns and reduces the availability of safe drinking water.

In 2023, New Orleans experienced a drinking water emergency when saltwater infiltrated upstream due to unusually low levels in the drought-impacted Mississippi River.

Last year, ongoing drought and years of low precipitation led to alarmingly low reservoir levels in Mexico City, resulting in significant water shortages for North America’s most populous urban areas.

South Texas has a long history of dry spells, with much of the region categorized as facing “moderate” or “severe” drought conditions. The US Drought Monitor publishes updated color-coded maps weekly to illustrate the extent and severity of droughts nationwide.

Extreme dryness has resulted in falling water levels in Lake Corpus Christi.

“There isn’t enough rain to restore the lakes and reservoirs in South Texas,” said Davis, indicating that several municipal and small community areas will need to seek emergency solutions.

Davis mentioned that projections indicate lake levels may become critically low by late December. Thus, the city is initiating the drilling of two emergency wells to ensure a continued supply of drinking water.

Although the project is still in the planning stages, Davis expressed hope that the permitting process and lease agreement with the Texas Parks and Wildlife division could be expedited. If all goes well, excavation may commence by the end of October.

“If everything goes as planned and we can install the wells by late December, we should be fine,” stated Davis.

Nonetheless, city officials are exploring additional contingency options, including potentially expensive desalination plants and wastewater treatment and reuse systems.

“We haven’t ruled anything out,” Davis concluded.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

After Hurricane Hits, Majority of Coastal Town’s Residents Abandon Rebuilding Efforts

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According to NASA’s estimates, Louisiana has lost about 750 square miles of coastal wetlands since 1984. Check out the report for more details. In a recent paper published in February, researchers have predicted that three-quarters of Louisiana’s wetlands could be submerged by 2070.

In various coastal cities across the United States, the land is gradually sinking due to fossil fuel and water extraction, exacerbating sea level rise. By 2050, the sinking phenomenon could potentially put over half a million more people at risk of severe flooding.

Raising resilient children

Anna Dupont, 21, is one of the few young residents left in Cameron Parish. She cherishes her parents’ stories about the vibrant community of Cameron.

Anna Dupont, 21, is one of the few young people left in Cameron after a series of devastating hurricanes.
Michael Gemelli/NBC News

Before Hurricane Rita, Cameron Parish was a thriving, close-knit community that enjoyed festivities like crawfish boils and barbecues, with residents being proud supporters of the high school football team.

Dupont recalls nostalgic memories of fishing and birdwatching in the expansive wetlands surrounding her former home. She laments the loss of her favorite hangout spot, T-Boy’s Cajun Grill, which now stands as an empty lot.

Cameron is considered ground zero for climate change by Dupont, who witnessed her home being destroyed twice by storms before she even graduated from high school. Hurricane Laura’s impact forced her and her family to evacuate, leading to a sense of loss and emptiness upon their return.

Despite a joyful upbringing, Dupont saw her peers struggle with disrupted childhoods due to unstable living conditions post-hurricanes, leading to mental health challenges and substance abuse in some cases.

While many residents departed Cameron Parish after Hurricane Rita in 2005, others chose to remain resilient despite subsequent natural calamities. However, the proposed expansion of Venture Global LNG’s CP2 LNG terminal construction has stirred concern among the remaining residents.

Source: www.nbcnews.com