Senator hosts talks, but Sinton leaders leave their chairs empty.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — A meeting meant to bring two cities together over a controversial water project ended with one side staying away.

Adam Hinojosa invited leaders from Corpus Christi and Sinton to his Portland office to discuss the ongoing dispute over the Evangeline Aquifer water project. But as Sinton officials had indicated earlier in the week, no representatives from the City attended the meeting.

Hinojosa moved forward with the discussion anyway, sitting down with Corpus Christi officials to hear their perspective and gather information he hopes to pass along to Sinton.

The Senator says the goal is to keep communication open and encourage both sides to continue working toward a solution.

“I want to emphasize that the door remains open to the city of Sinton,” Hinojosa said. “The goal is not to force anyone into a position.”

Hinojosa says he plans to send the results of the meeting to Sinton leaders in hopes the conversation can continue.

“I want to send that over to the city of Sinton and say this is what came of the meeting and we still have an open door,” he said. “We will always have an open door to address their needs.”

Meanwhile the Evangeline Aquifer project itself could face a long legal road.

Along the Nueces River near Highways 624 and 666, Corpus Christi already has two well fields in place. However, none of that water is currently being released into the river.

Paulette Guajardo says the city is working with the governor’s office to obtain the permits needed to move forward.

Guajardo says the city already has up to 10 million gallons of water ready to be released into the river once approvals are secured.

At the same time, city leaders say another possible water source could come from property owners located along the Mary Rhodes Pipeline.

Peter Zanoni says some landowners have approached the city about converting parts of their property into new well fields that could feed directly into the pipeline and potentially add another supply of water for the region.