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Antonio’s water and wastewater infrastructure
is the massive system of pipes, water wells, pumps, storage
tanks, treatment facilities, and pump stations that is mostly
below ground.
The city has more than 9,000 miles of water and sewer mains
buried below the 560-square miles that San Antonio Water System
serves – enough to stretch from South Texas to Australia.
That’s a lot of pipe to keep in good working order!
Planning for the Future
Because parts San Antonio's aging water and wastewater infrastructure
are nearing the end of their useful life, SAWS has undertaken
a comprehensive Capital Improvement
Program to meet the city's long-term needs.
The CIP also addresses the need for expanding our infrastructure
to serve San Antonio's growing residential and business populations.
Expansion of the SAWS system is primarily funded through developer
impact fees to ensure existing customers do not bear the
brunt of the costs for new development.
Maximizing Resources
While many utilities have traditionally based their infrastructure
replacement schedules solely on age, SAWS is moving toward
a more sophisticated, condition-based approach. This allows
us to extend the useful lifespan of pipes that have aged well,
while more aggressively pursuing replacement of those with
the highest likelihood of failure.
This process leverages our financial resources to sustain
the high quality, reliable service SAWS customers have come
to expect, while helping to maintain rate stability –
now and in the future.
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