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Zapata County approves invoice for raw-water intake work; officials say disbursement will wait for USDA reimbursement
Summary
County staff reported progress on the Zapata County raw‑water intake (cleared casings, platform work and plans for trailer-mounted backup pumps) and the court approved an invoice for intake work; the clerk said the county will hold payment until USDA reimbursement is received.
County staff and contractor representatives updated the Zapata County Commissioners Court on Nov. 11, 2025 about construction at the county raw‑water intake and presented an invoice for completed work (identified in the meeting materials as invoice #6). Contractors reported platform work, electrical pole installation, cleaned intake casings and plans to keep two trailer‑mounted backup pumps at the river’s edge. A contractor representative said heavy equipment ordered from Caterpillar is expected to arrive around Dec. 20, 2025.
For now, the county will hold disbursement pending federal reimbursement. County Clerk Mary Jane explained that the county typically waits for reimbursements from USDA before releasing contractor payments and said the clerk’s office would hold the presented architect/contractor payment until USDA funds arrive.
The court approved the presented invoice by motion and recorded unanimous consent. Staff said additional dredging and a long‑reach trackhoe will be used to excavate a deeper intake pool to keep pumps from drawing mud at low water levels. Commissioners and staff discussed alternative or supplementary water sources and noted that groundwater supplies in the area are limited and often insufficient for long‑term municipal demand; they also discussed options such as regional pipeline connections or future groundwater projects as longer‑term redundancies.
What the court decided: A motion to approve the invoice (invoice #6) passed; staff were instructed to hold disbursement until USDA reimbursement is confirmed and to continue coordinating equipment delivery and dredging. The court did not change existing policy on county water rights or long‑term backup sources during the session.
What remains: Staff will monitor the Caterpillar equipment delivery timetable, finalize access/trucking improvements to the intake site and return to the court with any change orders or additional funding requests. The county did not adopt any new water‑rights claims or purchase agreements during the meeting.
