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City officials announce update on Water Circus event amid Drought Stage 3 Restrictions

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UPDATE: 7:17 a.m. Feb. 5

City officials announced an update about the Cirque Italia water circus show due to concerns from citizens.

"Following discussions with Cirque Italia, the circus has agreed to not utilize any water onstage for the duration of their performances in Corpus Christi, TX. Cirque Italia expressed understanding of the severity of the drought situation in Corpus Christi and the concerns of citizens, demonstrating their commitment to comply with local requirements," stated city officials.

The event organizers actively work with various City departments to complete all necessary permits.

City officials say they are committed to enforcing the current water conservation regulations to sustain our water supply during ongoing drought conditions.

"As part of Stage 3 drought restrictions, non-essential water use is limited, and any event or activity involving significant water consumption requires careful review and approval," added city officials.

UPDATE: 4 p.m. Feb 4.
Feliza Rosenthal, Media Representative for Cirque Italia Silver Unit, said that due to Stage 3 water restrictions, Cirque Italia will not use any water for their show in Corpus Christi. She also stated that the organization has obtained all necessary permits ahead of their water circus show.

Some residents in Corpus Christi voiced concerns after learning that Cirque Italia, a traveling water circus, would be performing at La Palmera Mall from Feb. 7 to 10 while the city remains under Stage 3 drought restrictions. The show, known for its water stage, initially raised questions about how much water would be used during the event.

Babatunde Arowolo, a local resident, questioned the move.
“I believe in terms of consideration, the city should consider the rest of the people here,” Arowolo said.

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“If the rest of the residents are being restricted on how they can use certain amounts of water, it sounds unfair,” he said.

The city addressed the concerns in a social media post on February 2, stating they were reviewing the event to ensure compliance with water conservation efforts.

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Following discussions with Cirque Italia and La Palmera Mall representatives, the city released a statement clarifying that the circus would use less than 1,000 gallons of water supplied by a licensed third-party vendor. Officials said the water would be stored onsite, filtered, and recirculated throughout the event. La Palmera Mall would not provide water services, and a sanitation company would handle disposal. The city is requesting written documentation to verify these details.

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Additionally, the city stated that Development Services has issued a special event permit, which is in the finalization process. The Fire Department has also issued a tent permit, and a health and safety permit is currently under review by the Health Department.

KRIS6 News requested an interview with Cirque Italia. They initially agreed to speak on Monday but later said they were unavailable and could instead be available on Tuesday, February 4.

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