Pumping Restrictions to Start in 2008
 urrently almost 90 percent of the drinking water used SAWS customers comes from the Edwards Aquifer. This refreshing resource has been a vital mainstay for our community. But as San Antonio continues to grow, SAWS is reviewing other opportunities to optimize itss share of the Edwards Aquifer while protecting regional interests.
Acquisition of Additional Edwards Aquifer Supply
Although the least expensive, the acquisition of Edwards water, does have its share of obstacles.
A state-mandated process has brought some stability to the region by eliminating costly reductions to privately owned permitted withdrawal rights guaranteed through the Edwards Aquifer Authority’s permitting process/enabling act. This action established some short-term certainty but is contingent on balancing some regional interests through a process of protecting Endangered Species.
The Recovery Implementation Program, a process prescribed by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, is a collaborative effort that aims to balance regional interests, resulting in protections for all stakeholders of the Edwards Aquifer. Additionally, the Edwards Aquifer provides flow to the San Marcos and Comal Springs, important habitats for a number of recognized endangered and threatened species. Flow from the springs discharges to the Guadalupe River, which is dependent on complex relationships encountered through recharge of the Edwards Aquifer, aquifer characteristics and wide-scale regional climatic conditions.
The Edwards Aquifer will continue to be the foundation of the San Antonio’s water supply. New projects will need to closely match the chemical and taste profiles of the Edwards.
As part of the overall water supply, the current levels of Edwards supply will be complemented with the conversion of existing leases (currently 25,000 acre-feet*) to permanent water purchases through the year 2010. An additional 35,000 acre-feet of water rights will also be acquired to supplement short-term supply needs and facilitate better management of the Edwards Aquifer.
During the 2005 Water Resources Plan Update, SAWS Board of Trustees amended the plan to clarify the targeted amounts of Edwards supply . The Board stated that the amounts to be acquired as reflected in the 2005 Update should be regarded as limits rather than goals. Additionally, these limits would be offset by increasing supplies from the Regional Carrizo and desalination projects, and aggressively promoting and expanding the utilization of recycled water. As other potential supplies become viable, the limits reflected in the 2005 Update may be further reduced.
* An acre-foot of water is equivalent to 325,851 gallons
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