Victoria, Texas, located halfway between Houston and Corpus Christi, is home to the Quail Creek Municipal Utility District (MUD), serving a growing residential community in the northern part of the city.

Established in 1986, Quail Creek MUD is responsible for providing essential services such as water, sewer, and drainage, as mandated by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). Over the years, the district has expanded significantly, with water connections increasing from 200 in 1990 to 653 today, and wastewater connections reaching 608. The district also supports a local school and 52 commercial businesses.

However, the aging sewer infrastructure, originally built during World War I when the area was an Army air base, has become a major challenge for Quail Creek MUD to maintain as the infrastructure is crumbling.

In October 2022, a sewer main assessment revealed serious issues that could lead to catastrophic failure. Cave-ins had already disrupted services and caused raw wastewater to overflow into yards and roads. The reduced downstream capacity added urgency, necessitating immediate repairs to prevent further damage and avoid fines from the TCEQ.

Recognizing the urgent need for renovation, the district is undergoing a significant overhaul, including pipe bursting and a complete sewer system upgrade. This effort is supported by the Community Infrastructure and Lending Teams at Communities Unlimited (CU), who were brought in after the City of Victoria referred Quail Creek MUD for assistance.

Despite efforts to secure financial assistance, rising property values made the district ineligible for many federal grants. CU stepped in to help Quail Creek tackle two major projects. The priority was securing funding to replace the deteriorating concrete wastewater distribution system. With the help of CU’s Community Environmental Management Technician, Cami Cullom, and Senior Economic Development Loan Officer, Chris Ranniger, the district obtained a $750,000 loan through the Community Loan Fund (CLF) to address this critical issue.

Building on this support, CU is now assisting Quail Creek in pursuing a larger initiative — a $3.6 million Guaranteed Loan through the USDA for an expansive project. The community is currently selecting a bank to facilitate these funds. However, the timeline was delayed due to the passing of their board president, Richard Reyes, whose loss impacted the community. After mourning, Quail Creek MUD appointed Rodgers Weppler as his successor in June 2024.

Now, progress is moving forward again.

“Overall, it’s going well,” said Patricia Reyes, Quail Creek MUD’s Office Manager. “We’re excited. We’ve known for a long time that something needed to be done. We’re happy that we’re finally getting started.”

Reflecting on the work with CU, she noted that the process was easier than she had anticipated. The application was straightforward, and she appreciated being able to reach out with any questions. The payment process has also been smooth, which has been a significant relief.

Added Weppler, “Your whole company has done an excellent job. We’re fortunate to have your team working with us. Once we finish this phase and pay it off, we’re hoping to go back and start another phase. Hopefully, in the future, we’ll do more business with you.”

Cullom said working with Quail Creek MUD has been a rewarding experience, especially as it was the first community she was assigned after joining CU in July 2023.

“It has been a great learning experience,” Cullom said. “We have had an excellent rapport from the beginning.”