Maverick County Water Control and Improvement District No. 1 Main Canal Sustains Break Due to Soil Erosion

By: Miguel Munoz, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2017

The Maverick County Water Control and Improvement District No. 1 (MCWCID No. 1) main water canal sustained a break near Las Moras Creek in Quemado, Texas believed to have been caused by soil erosion on Monday, July 31, 2017, at approximately 7:30 A.M.,  announced Javier Mancha, President of the MCWCID No. 1 Board of Directors.

The over 80 year-old earthen built water canal is estimated to be closed two to three weeks for repairs by the MCWCID No. 1 work crews.  MCWCID No. 1 water users will be without irrigation water for their farms, ranches, livestock, crops, and other uses during this period.

Also affected by the break of the main water canal is the Maverick County Water Treatment Plant at the Radar Base which provides potable water to Normandy and Quemado, Texas residents within Maverick County.  The Maverick County Water Treatment Plant does have a water reserve reservoir for events such as this, but it is unknown as of press time how many days this reserve will last.  The Maverick County Water Treatment Plant also has the ability to pump water into its reserve water reservoir.

“Our MCWCID No. 1 maintenance work crews are working diligently and as fast as possible to repair the break in the main water canal.  It may take up to two to three weeks to get the main canal repaired and restored for water delivery,” said Cynthia Martinez, General Manager of the MCWCID No. 1.  “We have notified all District members and water users, including the Maverick County Water Treatment Plant, of the main canal break and to take appropriate measures during the shut down period of the canal,” added Martinez.

Due to its earthen built, soil erosion, extreme hot temperatures being experienced this summer, and the age of the water canal, it is not uncommon for the MCWCID No. 1 water canal to suffer this type of breaks within the 86 miles long system.

No damages have been reported as a result of the main water canal break as the canal water went into Las Moras Creek and discharged into the Rio Grande River.

The last time that the MCWCID No. 1 main water canal sustained a similar break was on July 5, 2012, which was repaired expeditiously by MCWCID No. 1 work crews within two or three weeks.