MATHIS, Texas — The city of Mathis is currently in the preliminary stages of creating its own water supply, according to city manager Cedric Davis.
"We're projecting to build two to three wells and it'll pretty much be on the property that's located where our water plant is already existing, so we wouldn't have to buy any land. Right now, it's in its infant form, in its visionary stage," said Davis.
"The goal is to be self-sufficient, like you said where we can maintain our own water supply and not depend on the larger city of Corpus."
After Davis and his public works director speak with the Texas Water Development board, he says the project could cost anywhere between four to five million dollars.
"It can be a little bit less; it can be a little bit higher. We just don't know the particular numbers because it's still a vision that's a blueprint."
Drew Molly with Corpus Christi Water says the department commends Mathis for looking for another water source, especially because they wholly rely on surface water that it easily affected by drought.
"The City of Corpus Christi, we're looking at the same things that, apparently, the City of Mathis is looking at. The city of Alice is actually doing that right now. I mean, I think it's pretty clear that many communities in South Texas are looking for alternative supplies that are a little more drought proof," said Molly.
Corpus Christi Water services five hundred thousand people, both in the city and other regions they provide water to, including Beeville, Mathis and Alice and the San Patricio municipal water district.
Droughts leave hundreds of thousands of customers having to pull back on their water usage. This is why Molly says there's been talks of bringing a sea water desalination plant to the Coastal Bend for years.
"I think it's very important. It's certainly a conscientious effort folks are making to make sure their customers have an adequate, ample supply of drinking water."
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