As the South Texas water crisis continues, a San Patricio County city and its residents are continuing to battle against a Corpus Christi groundwater project that would draw groundwater from a local aquifer amid concerns it would affect their livelihoods.
On April 11, dozens of Sinton residents gathered at the Sinton Community Center for a rally opposing the Evangeline Aquifer groundwater project. The project would pump groundwater out of the Evangeline Aquifer in Sinton in the event that water is needed during the ongoing crisis.
The San Patricio County Municipal Water District, from whom many county entities received their water, receives their water from the city of Corpus Christi.
Corpus Christi officials have said the $169 million groundwater project would be aimed at bolstering the water supply, and would initially be able to bring 12 million gallons of water per day, with the potential for double that amount at 24 million. But residents of Sinton continue to worry about the impact the project would have on their livelihood if it were to move forward.
Dozens of community members came out to the rally, and also drove out to Welder Park – near where the aquifer is – to protest.
“This is our water. It involves me, you, everybody here,” rally organizer Brent Casey said. “…. If they start pulling what they want to pull, all of us that are ranchers, we’re going to be out of work.”
The project continues to face several hurdles, with permitting for several parts of the project still yet to be issued. And Casey – among others – are hoping the project will be scrapped in favor of other alternatives. Casey and others talked about potentially using a reverse osmosis method, which they believe would help everyone without the potentially harmful effects.
Casey said the plan was to hold more “Save our Water” rallies as they continue to fight against the project.
“I’m asking each and every one of you to come to Commissioners Court, call your county commissioner, call your mayors, call your council members – tell them we’re not going to stand for this,” he said. “…. We need the water. It’s not their answer, it’s not their saving grace. It’s not going to be our saving grace.”