Water Quality Then & Now
In days of yore, our San Antonio forefathers knew the
region's success depended on clean and accessible water.
That's why water carrying ditches, known as acequias,
were built alongside the river. Back then, the purity
of the water was fiercely protected. So much so, folks
planted cactus plants along the acequias to keep animals
out. Needless to say, the plentiful supply of water triggered
a population boom in the 1890's. By 1920, the population
had grown considerably and the Edwards Aquifer was pumping
over 22 million gallons a day. Today, 154 million gallons
of groundwater are pumped from the aquifer each day. Meaning,
the Edwards Aquifer is abundant but certainly not unlimited.
And because our city is growing, we need to take proactive
approach to preserve our water quality. One example is
the passage of the San
Antonio Mandates for Quality Water. These 33 mandates
strengthen codes, increase cooperation between State agencies,
adopt new technologies and conduct necessary studies to
ensure our water stays clean.
Keep it Clean
The next time you go sailing on a lake, catch fish in a
nearby stream or enjoy a cool glass of crystal clear water,
take a moment to thank Uncle Sam. Water quality standards
are set by the federal government for the benefit of everyone.
Who picks up the bill for all of this, you ask? We all
do. As a matter of fact, part of your water bill includes
a Storm Water Program Fee to help keep our local rivers
and streams clean (You'll find the fee listed directly
below your water and sewer charges). And who's responsible
for managing the Storm Water Program? SAWS, COSA, and
TXDOT to be exact. Here's what everybody does:
San Antonio Water System
- Water quality monitoring and enforcement
- Construction and industrial site investigation
- Educational aspects of the Storm Water Program
- Billing
City of San Antonio
- Drainage maintenance
- River maintenance
- Household hazardous waste
- Street sweeping
- Hazardous road spills
Check Please
- How much does it cost to keep our watersheds squeaky
clean? On average it's in the neighborhood of $12.5 million
Get with the Program
In addition to following all earth-friendly tips on our
web site, you can participate in any number of water quality
programs to help make sure the water you drink is crystal
clear.
