South Texas groundwater dispute intensifies over water rights and a major pumping project.
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — A South Texas water fight is heading to court, with a judge set to hear arguments Tuesday over whether Corpus Christi can move forward with pumping groundwater from neighboring San Patricio County.
At the center of the dispute is the city’s Evangeline Water Well Field near Sinton, a project carrying a price tag of more than $650 million and designed to secure long-term water supply for Corpus Christi.
But smaller communities nearby say the plan comes at their expense.
Sinton and nearby St. Paul argue the project would double the amount of groundwater pulled from the aquifer beneath them.
“We will not accept the idea that the needs of a larger city automatically outweighs the rights of the smaller one,” Sinton City Manager John Hobson said.
The legal question taking shape in court is whether those cities have the standing to challenge the project. If a judge agrees they do, the fight is far from over.
Corpus Christi leaders maintain the project is operating within the rules set by the groundwater conservation district and say concerns are misplaced.
“We have 24 wells on 22,000 acres, that’s almost 1,000 acres per well,” City Councilman Gil Hernandez said. “So we are not taking any more than is already authorized by the groundwater conservation district. So it’s hard to understand how you would have standing when you’re following the rules on private land.”
City officials argue the stakes go beyond legal technicalities. They say the project is a key piece of avoiding future drought restrictions for residents and industry.
Still, leaders acknowledge there is a backup plan that could shift how the project is used if the court fight derails transporting the water to Corpus Christi.
“I think the one in San Patricio County is going to go good for us,” City Councilman Eric Cantu said. “I really believe that, worst case scenario we keep that water there and give it to San Pat County.”
City Manager Peter Zanoni described that option as less ideal but still viable.
“There is a concept that we could keep the 24 million right in the county and not even transported to O.N. Stevens for treatment,” Zanoni said. “That is something that is less desirable, but still an option.”
Even that potential compromise may not settle the dispute.
Sinton leaders say any scenario that increases groundwater production could face opposition, setting up a prolonged legal battle over who controls the water beneath San Patricio County and how it can be used.