New Aqueduct to Serve Rio Grande Mid-Valley in Texas
- Replacement of the Anacuitas Aqueduct project completed
- NADB provided a $1.25 million grant for the project
Mercedes, Texas – A dedication ceremony was held today to mark the completion of the Anacuitas Aqueduct located along Expressway 83 in Mercedes. The North American Development Bank (NADB) provided a US$1.25 million grant to Hidalgo and Cameron Counties Irrigation District No. 9 (H&CCID No. 9) to partially fund the US$4.5 million project, while H&CCID No. 9 covered the rest of the financing with its own funds. The aqueduct conveys 388 million gallons of water per day from the Rio Grande River, up through the Delta area and over to Weslaco.
The dedication ceremony was attended by project leaders and officials from Cameron and Hidalgo Counties including Mercedes Mayor Henry Hinojosa; Randy Winston, P.E., H&CCID9 General Manager; and Juan Antonio Flores, NADB Associate Director of Public Affairs.
The new aqueduct, 290-foot long by 26-foot wide, has replaced the old concrete structure built over 100 years ago. The new infrastructure will have a maximum conveyance capacity of 600 cubic feet per second with an estimated average annual flow of 40,000 acre-feet.
“There was no waiting for the aqueduct to fail or shut down for repair or maintenance. It was time to get the funding and make it happen,” said Winston. “With the help of SWG Engineers, and a grant from NADB, we were able to complete the financing for this important project.”
The H&CCID No. 9 is responsible for delivering raw water to the cities of Elsa, Edcouch, La Villa, Mercedes, and Weslaco in addition to the North Alamo Water Supply Corporation. An estimated 350 agricultural accounts in the far western portion of Cameron County and the eastern portion of Hidalgo will also receive resources.
“We are pleased to be here to witness the completion of this much needed new infrastructure that will continue to carry water to many communities and agricultural producers in the Rio Grande Valley,” said Flores. “NADB recognizes the importance of supporting financing for water conservation projects, so that we may continue to have sustainable water resources for people to live and communities to thrive.”
The project received the certification of the Border Environment Cooperation Commission (BECC) back in 2004.