Val Verde County seeks bids for Escondido Estates booster pump project

Val Verde County opened a new round of bidding for the Escondido Estates Booster Station, a project tied to water pressure and fire protection for homes on the southeast side of the county and the City of Del Rio system. The county’s RFP 26-97 seeks proposals for a booster pump system and electrical work, and the solicitation is open with a closing deadline of July 9, 2026 at 2:00 p.m.

A December 2023 project evaluation report placed the booster station at the intersection of Calle Del Verdegal and Guajolote Street. It serves Escondido Estates and surrounding property on the southeast side of the Val Verde County and City of Del Rio water distribution system. The report identified one 30,000-gallon ground storage tank, one 4,500-gallon hydro-pneumatic tank and two horizontal centrifugal pumps, with the storage tank receiving water from Del Rio through 8-inch and 12-inch transmission lines.

Val Verde County and the City of Del Rio depend on the station for water distribution in the area and need it to provide fire flow. The two existing pumps each have a design flow capacity of 150 gallons per minute, giving the station a firm pumping capacity of 150 gpm. Texas Commission on Environmental Quality rules require a fire hydrant to supply at least 250 gpm at 20 psi for two hours.

The project has moved through design and procurement steps for more than two years. In May 2024, the Val Verde County Commissioners Court discussed authorizing the purchasing agent to seek qualifications for electrical engineering work on the project. By December 2024, commissioners were considering additional funding from available appropriations and a contract award to the highest scored offeror. In February 2025, court agenda materials referenced whether to rescind an order to rebid the booster pump station and instead move forward with either an RFP or a cooperative purchasing program.

The record drawings identify TxCDBG contract numbers 713479 and 713125.