(August 7, 2009)

ALICE--Alice top city planners are concerned about that city's water supply. Currently, their main source isLake Corpus Christi and the water level there appears to be dropping fast. In the next month and half, the pump used to get water to Alice will stop pumping once it hits a certain level.

At Saenz Elementary School in Alice, theyre watering their grass at high noon. It's this type of use of water that has Alice residents worried during one of the worst droughts in the Coastal Bend history.

"It's just horrendous right now and we just limit our water intake," said Melinda Gonzales, an Alice resident. My lawn is horrible. We definitely need the rain. Something needs to be done."

City leaders are starting to run water conservation announcements on the city-owned cable station.

They're also watching the Lake Corpus Christi Reservoir, their source of water for this small town. It's at 83 feet right now, but if it goes down five feet more, which is expected in a month and half, residents will be without water.

"At 78 feet, it would be simply put we would not be able pump water out of the reservoir," said Ray De Los Santos, Alice City Manager.

Alice leaders are in negotiations with Corpus Christi water officials to release water from Choke Canyon. While they're in the middle of negotiations, city leader just hope city leaders get this issued addressed right away.

"In dialogue with the city of Corpus Christi over the last month, we've received assurances from their administration, they will address this issue," De Los Santos said.. "There are studies that indicate the water can efficiently be used at the elevation of 80 feet."

"What are we going to do without water?", Gonzales said. "That's an essential necessity. We need that. I wasn't aware we were in that stage."

A decision by Corpus Christi City Council is expected by mid august. Until then. Alice will have to pray for rain.

--Manuel De La Rosa, Area 3 News, mdelarosa@kiiitv.com