Construction is underway on a 10-mile reclaimed water pipeline that will run through several Corpus Christi neighborhoods, prompting questions from residents as crews use several city parks to stage equipment.
The project is designed to provide treated, non-potable water for industrial use and reduce the amount of water industrial customers take from the city’s drinking water supply.
Residents have noticed heavy equipment, fenced-off areas and orange markings near their neighborhoods as construction gets underway.
“There are some indications around the blocks here nearby that there’s going to be some more construction going on the road, unknown to me what it’s all about,” Corpus Christi resident Robert Sanchez said.
Sanchez lives near one of the construction sites and said he came out to see what was happening when he heard some noise.
“I’m going to come out and still view what’s happening in my neighborhood with equipment, the people, see how it’s being taken care of, and there’s no excessive waste being left around,” Sanchez said.
The new pipeline will transport treated wastewater from the Oso Water Reclamation Plant to the Greenwood Wastewater Treatment Plant. The water will be treated for industrial use rather than drinking.
The pipeline will stretch for about 10 miles through the city.
“We’ve got to go through the heart of the city,” Jeff Edmonds, Corpus Christi director of engineering, said. “Try and minimize the disruption. The intent was to expedite construction to the extent possible.”
To help speed up construction, the city is allowing contractors to use existing city property to stage equipment.
That includes six local parks and city properties: Park View, Lexington, St. Andrews, Wooldridge, Holly, Schanen and the city’s annex.
“The intent was to expedite construction to the extent possible,” Edmonds said. “So, in order to do that, we had to utilize existing city property for contractor staging.”
City officials said the use of the parks is temporary and will not prevent visitors from using park amenities.
In a statement to 3NEWS, the city said, “This temporary use will not disrupt park visitors’ enjoyment of amenities, and the parkland will be restored to its original condition where equipment was staged.”
The project is also receiving private investment.
Corpus Christi City Councilman Roland Barrera said Valero is investing millions of dollars in the pipeline project in exchange for access to the reclaimed water.
“Valero is investing $110 million to be able to complete the pipeline, so that way they could utilize this water,” Barrera said.
Barrera said the project is expected to provide about 11 million gallons of reclaimed water per day that would otherwise come from the city’s drinking water supply.
Sanchez said the temporary disruption is worthwhile if the project helps conserve the city’s water supply.
“Being able to use water for industrial purposes where we don’t have to be maybe using city water for the residents would be a very, very good thing for the city of Corpus Christi and the surrounding area,” Sanchez said.
The reclaimed water pipeline is expected to be completed around July 2027.