SAWS 'Charting the Course' of Water Future
(11/4/09)
San Antonio Water System today welcomed more than 350 guests from the city and around the state for its inaugural “state of the water” luncheon, titled Water: Charting the Course. At the event SAWS CEO and President Robert R. Puente noted how the harsh drought of the last two years had changed the utility’s perspective.
 “The drought of the last two years has been difficult, and it has taught us many lessons, both administratively and operationally,” Puente said. “But it confirmed something that we already knew – that drought restrictions work. And that while our lawns may have been a little brown, our residences and businesses had all the water they needed to flourish.
“We have begun to analyze the impact of the last two years of drought, and in particular, the effectiveness of our drought ordinance and how it can be improved.”
“From a regional standpoint,” continued Puente, “our neighbors appreciate our conservation efforts. I’m sure it would be difficult for them to imagine a regional drought in which San Antonio was not doing its part to help manage the Edwards aquifer.”
Puente noted that while the rest of the state wrangles over the creation of water storage reservoirs to help meet the state’s future water needs, San Antonio already has its own. The Aquifer Storage and Recovery facility is four times as large as Applewhite would have been, and holds three times as much water as Braunig Lake.
In addition, SAWS has developed the largest direct recycled water system in the nation, providing highly treated wastewater to companies throughout the city for beneficial uses. Recycled water is already used daily to assemble Toyota trucks, provide flow in the world-famous River Walk, irrigate municipal and private golf courses, and help cool CPS Energy power plants.
Puente recognized local businesses that have led the way in commercial conservation through innovative programs frequently underwritten by SAWS. Companies like Toyota, Frito-Lay, and Hilton are saving hundreds of millions of gallons each year while bringing their economic benefits and jobs to the city.
Puente also announced that SAWS had closed an Edwards water lease agreement with former Governor Dolph Briscoe and his partners that would provide 8,300 acre feet of water to the city.
“I am pleased to announce to you today, that the supply gap of 2014 no longer exists,” said Puente. “ SAWS has closed that gap, and not just because of recent rains. By the end of this year we will have acquired a total of over 20,000 acre-feet of new Edwards water rights. We have done such a good job, that in 2010 we will no longer lease Edwards water. SAWS will only be in the market to buy.”
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