WHERE THEWATER COMES FROM
In 1995, San Antonio received 100% of its water from the Edwards Aquifer. This chart reflects total water production in 2021 from an increasing number of SAWS supplies.
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1 acre-foot=326,000 gallons
Edwards Aquifer (51.2%) 146,974 acre-feet Vista Ridge (17.7%) 50,939 acre-feet Aquifer storage and recovery/recycledwater (14.8%) 42,398 acre-feet Local/Regional CarrizoAquifer sources (5.8%) 16,758 acre-feet Canyon Lake/RegionalWater Authority (5%) 14,329 acre-feet TrinityAquifer (3.4%) 9,685 acre-feet Brackish desalination (2.1%) 6,089 acre-feet
TOTAL: 287,172 acre-feet
SOURCE: SAN ANTONIO WATER SYSTEM/COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
BEWISE ABOUT WATER USE With Stage 2 watering rules in effect, the San Antonio Water System urges customers to prepare for a hot, dry summer and to be vigilant in avoiding water waste at home.
For more on outdoor watering, converting turfgrass to landscape
Listen for running water and watch for leaks. Check the water
The best way to water is by hand, which can be done at any time,
SAWS customers with an irrigation system may request a free
beds and other WaterSaver gardening advice, visit www.gardenstylesanantonio. com. For additional tips, visit www.saws.org/service/ water-bill-too-high.
meter—if there are dials turning, water is running. To identify leaks or to receive leak alerts, check out the SAWS’ flow sensor rebate details by visiting www.gardenstylesanantonio. com/water-flow-sensor-rebate.
any day. Have an irrigation system? Check the sprinkler settings and ensure they are set to Stage 2 rules. Delete any programming for extra start times or days. For the biggest savings, run the system manually.
consultation by calling 210-704-7283 to schedule an appointment. Add mulch to landscaping and shrub beds to help reduce outdoor watering.
SOURCES: SAN ANTONIO WATER SYSTEM, SAWS CONSERVATION CONSULTANT BRAD WEIR/COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
Guz said such efforts to encourage more efficient water consumption, col- lectively, will help to delay the need to develop additional water supply proj- ects for decades. “We’ve prevented large-scale expen- ditures by finding ways to use water more efficiently while still having a great lifestyle,” Guz said. SAWS officials said they aim to re-emphasize these and other conser- vation tips during times of extended dry weather, which has prevailed over the San Antonio area in recent months. On April 12, the SAWS entered Stage 2 watering rules, attributing their deci- sion to the “hot, dry conditions of La Niña” that caused the Edwards Aqui- fer monitoring well, known as J-17, to drop below 650 feet. SAWS officials said Stage 2 watering rules begin when the 10-day rolling average of the aqui- fer level drops to 650 feet mean sea level at the monitoring well. Stage 2 rules permit SAWS custom- ers to water with a sprinkler, irrigation
and boosting water production at the H2Oaks facility. The H2Oaks complex is designed for expansion to treat 30million gallons of brackish groundwater a day, but that will require drilling new production wells outside of Bexar County. The nonprofit Greater Edwards Aqui- fer Alliance is keeping an eye on the management strategy. GEAA Executive Director Annalisa Peace commended the overall planning process, particu- larly conservation efforts and goals. “We have a good, diversified portfo- lio, but we probably have more water than what we need,” Peace added. But the alliance is curious about the SAWS’ long-range vision for any excess water produced by the Vista Ridge pipeline. Peace said the SAWS has yet to provide a detailed approach to unneeded Vista Ridge water.
system or soaker hose between 7-11 a.m. and p.m. on their designated day, as determined by the last digit of their address. Watering with a handheld hose is still allowed any time, any day. Guz said SAWS customers should view these rules as smarter ways to use water and shrink their water bill. “You’re reining in the more passive ways of using water that can add up fast with a hose or sprinkler system,” Guz said. Planning for the future Aside from a continued focus on conservation, Siebert said the effort to update the SAWS’ water management plan this year will reflect 2020 U.S. Census data; current and projected residential, commercial and industrial developments; and water demand pat- terns across the SAWS service area. Siebert said this year’s plan update will also weigh drought triggers for water use rules; rising temperatures and frequency of heavy rainfall events;
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Gustavo Mendoza Solar Energy Professional
www.smartworldenergy.com (210) 853-5656
For more information, visit communityimpact.com .
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NORTH SAN ANTONIO EDITION • MAY 2022
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