Orange County WCID 1

Orange County WCID 1 Municipal Water Report Info
Forty Years of Community Water Management: An Overview by Jim Edmonson Prepared for NCWCID #4 Board of Directors November 20, 1992

PREFACE
Living on a coastal island offers unique appeal that residents have cherished for generations. However, beneath the charm and sandy shores lie significant infrastructure challenges related to developing and maintaining effective water and wastewater systems that impact daily life for all inhabitants.

The dedicated residents of Mustang Island have created a robust water and wastewater system through persistence and hard work, reflecting their commitment to comfortable island living. This hasn't always been the case, however.

This document aims to contextualize the developments over four decades in the island's journey toward ensuring reliable drinking water supplies and environmentally responsible wastewater management. While not intended to be exhaustively detailed, it compiles records, statistical information, and interview interpretations into a single resource documenting the evolution of the Nueces County Water Control and Improvement District No. 4.

BEFORE THERE WAS A WATER DISTRICT
Until the late 1920s, water supply remained strictly an individual responsibility. With the island's population numbering only in the low hundreds, each household managed its own water needs. Water availability wasn't the primary challenge, as wells could be installed relatively easily with supplies just feet below the surface. The real difficulty was finding quality drinking water.

Some residents utilized cypress reservoirs to collect rainwater for drinking purposes. Those fortunate enough to be situated in favorable locations discovered potable water about seventeen feet underground. Though drinkable, this water contained substantial minerals and often tasted salty.

The groundwater supply proved unpredictable at best. Sitting atop saltwater, it was easily affected by demand fluctuations and ocean tides. This uncertain freshwater situation presented ongoing challenges for early island residents, making daily tasks like cooking, drinking, and cleaning problematic. Laundry was particularly difficult, as the mineral-laden water was so hard that soap wouldn't lather properly, leaving white clothing dingy after washing.

1928 – 1937
This self-reliant water procurement method prevailed until 1928, when entrepreneur Gayle Borden Munsill established what could be considered the island's first utility company. Mr. Munsill developed electricity, water, ice, and telephone services for Port Aransas. The maintenance facilities for these utilities were located on Avenue C, where the Telephone Company maintenance building stands today. This original location remains the area where water and telephone facilities currently operate. The original office building still exists as a residence at the southwest corner of Avenue C and 9th Street.

For the water component of Munsill's operation, multiple well fields were established around the island with a collection system. Well fields were positioned near the large white dune area (east end of Oakes Street), near the Oscar Gillespie residence (near Palm and 11th Street), and around Lantana and 11th Street. The original wells and pumps near what's now the Belcher home were the last to be decommissioned.

1937 – 1945
By 1937, it became evident that Mustang Island's groundwater couldn't sustain the growing population and development of Port Aransas. As water quality declined and often turned salty, the City of Port Aransas purchased the existing water distribution system from Mr. Munsill, marking the first municipal attempt at water management.