The Sinton community gathered for a rally to voice their concerns about the Corpus Christi Evangeline groundwater project Saturday evening.
More than two dozen locals drove to Welder Park to protest. Organizer Brent Casey said now more than ever, it’s important for the people in San Patricio County to come together and stand united.
“I’m a rancher, and most of these people that showed up today are ranchers where we get our water at a 300-foot level. We know the geography around here, and if they go through with what they’re wanting to do, everything that pulls from the bottom affects everything up top. We will be out of water,” Casey said.
The Evangeline groundwater project would pump water to Corpus Christi, but Sinton residents worry it could lower groundwater levels and affect their wells.
Among those in the fight is Robin Smith, who said she’s worried about the impact the project will have on families who rely on well water every day.
“Once that salt water is sucked up to the top, the crops aren’t going to grow. You can’t water your animals or your livestock. You can’t water your people. And, as far as I know, there’s no oversight into the drilling of those wells, and I’d like answers, transparency and honesty,” Smith said.
Ryan Maloney has already seen a drop in the level of his water well and believes the project could end up drying it up completely.
“Our water replenishment has gone down 65% year to date versus an average. Our wells are running at dangerously low levels. I’m a well owner. I have a few around here, and right now we’re worried about the community,” Maloney said. “I mean, this deal that they made with Corpus, this pipeline is basically going to kill us. They issued us a death sentence. Water is a necessary element to survival, and for them just to come in and sweep our water from underneath our feet, that’s wrong to me.”
Casey is hoping that Corpus Christi will abandon this project and concentrate on other options.
“The answer is like what other cities are doing inland, and that is reverse osmosis. Desal is not the answer. RO is the way to go,” Casey said. “Because we can pull the brine water that is down deep, we can regenerate it, recoup it, and turn it into drinking water, and it benefits everybody.”
He hopes the message this group is sending will make a difference.
“This is ground zero where it’s taking place, and we need all the citizens to come out and back everybody here because it affects everyone, not just us,” Casey said.
Casey said he’s planning another “Save Our Water” protest because the issue is too important and he wants the community to continue to stand together and fight against the project.