Santa Fe-area leaders weigh water and sewer routing; informal preference emerges for 1764 route

Officials from the City of Santa Fe, the Galveston County Water Control and Improvement District No. 8 (WCID 8) and the Santa Fe Economic Development Corporation met Jan. 9, 2025, to discuss options for extending water and sewer infrastructure to support planned residential and commercial growth.

The discussion centered on two primary corridors: State Highway 646 (running north–south through parts of the district) and Farm‑to‑Market/County Road 1764 (the corridor toward La Marque/Lamar). Participants cited a Gulf Coast Water Authority transmission line that crosses 646 near Second Street as an important asset, but several speakers said running sewer and water down Cemetery Road and 1764 would be easier to permit and require fewer easement negotiations than running lines along 646.

Why it matters: timing and route selection will shape where developers locate new housing and commercial parcels and which projects are feasible within the budgets of multiple local entities. Speakers said the choice will affect where infrastructure investment occurs and which jurisdictions attract new businesses as League City, Dickinson and Alvin expand westward.

Key technical points and constraints discussed

- Existing transmission and backup lines: Participants noted a Gulf Coast Water Authority (GCWA) line crossing 646 near Second Street and described a GCWA system of mains and a…