Mayor Speidel says Sinton won’t back down as Corpus Christi moves forward with its Evangeline groundwater project, even though key permits are still pending.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Sinton Mayor Mary Speidel said the city is “not quitting” and “not giving up” in their efforts to block the Evangeline Groundwater Project as Corpus Christi moves forward with construction — before required permits have been issued.

Her response comes after Corpus Christi officials on Friday confirmed the arrival of of large, 48-inch pipes at the project site on the Welder Ranch in San Patricio County.

“Yes — we are aware that shipment of pipe has arrived at the Evangeline groundwater project site,” Speidel said. “No — the permits to drill and transport large volumes of groundwater have not been issued at this time.” 

Speidel questioned why construction is moving forward without those approvals in place.

“Why then is Corpus Christi proceeding without permits?” she said. “According to Nick Winkelmann, Chief Operating Officer of Corpus Christi Water, the city is taking ‘a calculated strategic direction’ by beginning construction before permits are secured.”

On Friday, Corpus Christi City Manager Peter Zanoni told 3NEWS these deliveries mark the beginning of a steady flow of materials that will continue for months.

“Shipments will be coming in like this all the way through early September with about 90 percent of all the pipe coming in by July this year,” Zanoni said.

Speidel raised concerns about the broader impact of the project beyond San Patricio County.

“This issue extends beyond Sinton, St. Paul, or even San Patricio County. It affects the entire aquifer,” she said. “Large-scale pumping of groundwater could significantly impact our aquifer, which is our primary water source. These effects may be irreversible.”

She added that nearby communities are already seeing impacts.

“Neighboring towns are already reporting negative consequences related to the high volume of groundwater being pumped by Corpus Christi in Nueces County,” Speidel said.

On Tuesday, Orange Grove City Administrator Todd Wright told 3NEWS the city recorded the largest drawdown event in its monitoring history, with the aquifer dropping 17 feet.

“(The) City of Orange Grove uses 300,000 gallons daily. So that’s 0.3 million gallons per day. Whereas we’re currently seeing — as of last week, just through the well fields that City of Corpus has put in rural Nueces County — they’re pumping 10 million gallons per day, so you can see the pumping disparity there, and this is something our aquifer hasn’t has seen. It’s being overworked, over pumped,” Wright explained.

Speidel said Sinton and others are continuing to challenge the project through formal protests.

“The protests filed by the City of Sinton, St. Paul Water Supply and a private individual remain pending,” she said.

A preliminary hearing to determine standing in those cases is scheduled for April 28.

“We are not quitting. We are not giving up. We will continue to move forward with our protests.”

The Evangeline water project is a $400 million investment aimed at boosting Corpus Christi’s long-term water supply. Once complete, the system is expected to deliver up to 24 million gallons of water per day.

Full statement from Mayor Speidel:

From: Mayor Mary

To: Residents of Sinton, St. Paul and surrounding San Patricio County

RE:  Evangeline Groundwater Project Update

We are aware that shipment of pipe has arrived at the Evangeline groundwater project site.

The permits to drill and transport large volumes of groundwater have not been issued at this time. 

Why then is Corpus Christi proceeding without permits? 

According to Nick Winkelmann,  Chief Operating Officer of Corpus Christi Water, the city is taking “a calculated strategic direction” by beginning construction before permits are secured.

The protests filed by the City of Sinton, St. Paul Water Supply and a private individual remain pending. A preliminary hearing regarding standing on the Evangeline Groundwater Project’s drilling and transport permits has been scheduled for April 28, 2026.  At this time, no in-person location has been announced for the hearing.

This issue extends beyond Sinton, St. Paul, or even San Patricio County. It affects the entire aquifer. Large-scale pumping of groundwater could significantly impact our aquifer, which is our primary water source. These effects may be irreversible. 

Neighboring towns are already reporting negative consequences related to the high volume of groundwater being pumped by Corpus Christi in Nueces County.

We are not quitting. We are not giving up. We will continue to move forward with our protests.