County Approves $1.2 Million Water Project for Tecolote Community

Jim Wells County moved on December 12 to approve the initial phase of a grant funded water project designed to supply clean, usable water to the small community of Tecolote. The approved $1.2 million package will fund a new water well and a holding tank that county officials say will serve daily household needs and provide emergency water access for local first responders.

The decision responds to years of hardship reported by residents after private wells failed. Resident Reynaldo Escobedo has been without a working well for four years. He currently hauls in water and spends roughly $200 per month on water and gasoline while living on a fixed income. Those direct costs and the time spent securing water have been a steady burden for families in Tecolote, and county leaders framed the project as a practical step toward reducing those strains.

County Judge Pedro "Pete" Trevino Jr. said officials have not forgotten the community, and county staff identified acquisition of the necessary land as the next formal step before construction can begin. County leaders emphasized that the approved system is intended both to meet everyday household needs and to bolster emergency response capabilities, giving fire and emergency services a reliable local source of water during incidents.

For Tecolote residents the project carries immediate financial and quality of life implications. A local well and holding tank will reduce or eliminate the need to haul water long distances, lower monthly expenses for those on fixed incomes, and reduce risk during medical or fire emergencies when local water access can mean the difference between a contained incident and a larger disaster.

Officials said they will keep the Tecolote community updated as the project moves from land acquisition to design and construction. While specific timelines were not finalized at the approval meeting, the county portrayed the vote as a concrete step toward restoring reliable water service for a rural area that has been living without for years.