Corpus Christi Advances Pipeline Work for Groundwater Project Despite Permit Dispute

Corpus Christi has started laying pipeline for an emergency groundwater project near Sinton even though it has not yet received the required permits. The city supplies water to roughly half a million people across seven counties and faces potential shortages if current reservoirs continue to decline.

Sinton, a town of 5,500 residents located about 30 minutes north of Corpus Christi, filed a legal challenge in February against the drilling permits for the Evangeline groundwater project. City leaders in Corpus Christi have linked the challenge to recent land deals, a rezoning ordinance for 1,000 acres, and a new substation permit in Sinton.

Court Ruling On May 5, Corpus Christi City Council Member Eric Cantu stated that Sinton challenged the permits because the town plans to host a data center. Local construction executive Michael Miller posted on the same day that land deals and rezoning provided significant evidence for the claim.

City Manager Peter Zanoni told a council meeting the following week that one or possibly two data centers are planned for Sinton. On Friday, Judge Alicia York ruled that Sinton’s legal challenge can proceed, sending the case into a process that could last years.

Corpus Christi had already begun trucking pipeline material to the site in early March in anticipation of a favorable ruling.

The Evangeline project would draw from the Evangeline Aquifer and could produce up to 24 million gallons per day by 2027. Corpus Christi currently provides up to 120 million gallons per day and had turned to the groundwater option after desalination plans encountered delays.

Sinton currently uses less than one million gallons per day from local groundwater. Former Sinton city engineer John Michael said a data center could require more than three million gallons per day. San Patricio County Groundwater Conservation District attorney Greg Ellis said parties involved in any data center project likely signed non-disclosure agreements.

Commissioner Thomas Yardley of San Patricio County stated he had heard rumors but nothing official.