Small Projects Offer Big Step in Water Resource Diversification
 he SAWS Water Resource Plan looks toward the next 50 years, taking a leadership role in the protection and development of water supplies for the San Antonio and Bexar County area. The plan is to reduce reliance from the Edwards Aquifer and to develop new and affordable water resources for the future such as the Oliver Ranch and Bulverde Sneckner Ranch projects.
Oliver Ranch Project
The Oliver Ranch project is located in North-Central Bexar County and provides Trinity Aquifer water to SAWS service areas. Water from this project was the first non-Edwards water to enter the SAWS distribution system. Delivery of this water to the SAWS system began in February 2002. The contract has an initial term of 10 years with two five-year renewal options. Currently, water is produced and chlorinated on the Oliver Ranch site, then pumped to the SAWS Indian Springs Storage tank.
BSR Project
The Bulverde Sneckner Ranch (BSR) project, also in North Bexar County, is adjacent to the Oliver Ranch project. A total of four wells were completed on the property by SAWS. Like the Oliver Ranch project, water is chlorinated at the Oliver Ranch facility site. Delivery of water to the SAWS system began in June 2003. The contract has an initial term of five years with three five-year renewal options. Hydrologic modeling was conducted for this property in conjunction with the Oliver Ranch property.
|
This map shows the area that began receiving water from the Trinity Aquifer in February 2002. |
|
|
Click on map for larger image.
|
What are the Benefits to the Trinity Aquifer Project?
These projects augment the water supply to in one of the city’s highest growth areas. During normal rainfall conditions, production from Oliver Ranch and BSR is approximately 4,000 acre-feet/year* and 1,000 acre-feet/year, respectively.
More Trinity Aquifer Project Facts
- SAWS signed contracts in February 2000 with Massah Development Corp. and BSR Water Supply Co. to purchase water from public supply wells completed in the Trinity Aquifer system.
- The source of the water comes from the Trinity Aquifer.
- Water is pumped directly to the 3.2-million-gallon Indian Springs water storage tank near Bulverde and Smithson Valley roads and placed into SAWS’ system.
- Initially about 750 households and businesses in an area north of Loop 1604 and east of U.S. 281 (see map) began receiving Trinity Aquifer water.
- The capital cost of the project was about $5.5 million or about $425 an acre-foot per year.
* An acre-foot of water is equivalent to 325,851 gallons
|
