CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Corpus Christi is taking a major step toward securing its water future, and it’s happening in the middle of a ranch outside Sinton.
City Manager Peter Zanoni was on the Welder Ranch in San Patricio County as the first shipment of massive 48-inch pipes arrived. The pipes, transported by 18-wheelers from South Carolina, will be used to build 30-miles worth of connecting pipeline from this Evangeline water well field to the Mary Rhodes pipeline.
City Manager Peter Zanoni says 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.
The Evangeline water project is a $400 million investment aimed at boosting the city’s long-term water supply. Once complete, the system is expected to deliver up to 24 million gallons of water per day.
Zanoni says the timeline is aggressive, with water expected to start flowing in about 21 months.
“With 24 million gallons a day ultimately in about 21 months from November this year, this will be a tremendous boost to our water security,” he said.
The project is moving forward despite ongoing opposition from the city of Sinton, which continues to contest the development. Sinton City Manager John Hobson has told 3 News in the past that he knows this project can’t be stopped. That’s why construction and design are pushing ahead as Corpus Christi faces increasing pressure to secure reliable water sources for future growth.
3News was the only media outlet on site as the first pipes arrived, marking a significant milestone in one of the region’s most critical infrastructure projects.