Nueces County updates Precinct 2 colonia septic pilot and eyes wider rollout

Nueces County commissioners on April 15 heard an update on a multi-phase effort to replace failing septic systems in Precinct 2’s colonias, a project county staff and consultant Adura Group said is funded primarily with ARPA dollars and Port of Corpus Christi authority contributions.

Adura Group’s presenter described the work as a remove-and-replace program required to meet county health-department and TCEQ-related permitting rules. ‘‘The scope of the work consisted of replacing existing systems, electrical upgrades, and abandoning electrical systems in accordance with TCEQ regulations,’’ the Adura Group presenter said, summarizing the project’s approach and the requirement that replaced systems be permitted.

The court heard that Phase 1 completed 34 septic systems earlier in 2026. Phase 2 was recently bid and includes 13 additional systems; commissioners said a larger GLO mid-mod phase could add roughly 100–155 more systems. County staff and the presenter estimated the combined projects could approach about 200 replaced systems in Precinct 2 when the program is complete.

County staff reported field-survey findings that worried some commissioners: of roughly 600 homes surveyed in one precinct, only about 9% had septic-tank permits, and many properties relied on homemade or failing systems.

‘‘So the rest were either dumping onto the ground or dumping into their own homemade systems,’’ a county staff member said, noting the public-health rationale for replacing failing systems.

Several commissioners applauded the pilot but said the replacement work exposed a broader problem: informal or illegal subdivision and development that leaves buyers unaware there is no municipal infrastructure. One commissioner urged the court to pursue legislative fixes and stronger local enforcement, saying the county may be ‘‘opening Pandora’s box’’ by addressing infrastructure gaps without parallel regulatory changes.

Commissioners asked staff to explore options including buyer-education materials, coordination with utility authorities to require permits before utilities are turned on, pursuit of additional grant funding, and potential deed restrictions or legislative requests to reduce future illegal development. The court did not adopt a specific new ordinance at the meeting but directed staff to prepare follow-up work.

The project team said the replaced systems use three-compartment low-dosage pumps with elevated electrical panels to prevent rain-event outages and that installations were inspected and permitted by the health department. Funding sources cited in the presentation include ARPA and Port of Corpus Christi authority funds; one commissioner also referenced $2.3 million set aside by a commissioner for related colonia septic work.

Next steps identified by commissioners included pursuing grant opportunities to expand the pilot, preparing legislative language or administrative steps to prevent future illegal subdivisions from creating the same problem, and continuing outreach and technical assistance to homeowners in affected areas.