Corpus Christi City Council has approved a $1 million agreement allowing the city to operate two existing groundwater wells in San Patricio County as part of its efforts to diversify its water supply.
The short-term agreement allows Corpus Christi Water to operate two permitted wells owned by Evangeline Laguna in San Patricio County. Council members Mark Scott and Roland Barrera cast the only votes against the agreement.
The city expects to produce up to 4 million gallons of groundwater per day and deliver it to the San Patricio Municipal Water District through the Dressen Pipeline and the Mary Rhodes Pipeline system.
Nick Winkelmann, chief operating officer of Corpus Christi Water, explained how the water would be delivered.
“So if we produce 2 or 3 million gallons a day from those two existing wells, the water would travel to San Pat Municipal Water District for their connection, which is downstream from the input,” he said.
Winkelmann said the project will also help officials study groundwater production and its potential effects on the surrounding area.
“It’s going to give us data on production of water: what impact it has to the ground water tables,” he said. “Things like subsidence, studying the water there.”
The data is expected to help the city determine whether pumping groundwater from the area would affect nearby wells.
The city will make an initial payment of $1 million, which will be credited toward future water purchases. The water will cost 80 cents per 1,000 gallons.