CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — After tireless efforts from local officials and state legislators, Corpus Christi water is now making its way to parts of rural Nueces County.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the completion of the Cyndie Park and Ranch Colonias water project -- an exciting day for residents there, who said they have been waiting to tap into city water for more than 40 years.
Before, residents had to use their own wells or the Cyndie Park 2 water supply. They said their water had higher levels of contaminants than is allowed by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, so neighbors began voicing concerns.
Nueces County commissioners listened.
Commissioner Joe Gonzalez said it was a 10-year process costing $2.5 million, but they applied for numerous grants. He said the project got much support from local agencies and state legislators.
"They believed in our dream, the dream that these people here, water matters. It matters for your life. It matters for your health," Gonzalez said. "So without that it would have never happened."
"Our grandkids kept complaining to me that the water alway itches their body," Becky Moreno said. "Now I told them we have city water now so when they come they can take a nice bath."
Residents started receiving water from the city last month and say it tastes just fine. In fact, at Thursday's ribbon cutting ceremony officals including Nueces County Judge Barbara Canales, Commissioner Gonzalez and Senator Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa downed a glass themselves.
Residents said it is nice to be able to drink from the tap, and way less expensive than buying bottled water.