16 billion gallons of water
stored underground
In June 2004, SAWS opened the Twin Oaks Aquifer Storage and Recovery facility
in south Bexar County — the first major project funded by SAWS customers
through the Water Supply Fee.
Water is pumped from the Edwards Aquifer in wet times and stored underground
in the Carrizo Aquifer. Later, during times of drought, the drinking
water is pumped back into the existing distribution system to help meet peak
water demands. If the water is not needed during a given year, it can remain in
storage for future use.
The nation's largest
recycled water system
More than 100 miles of purple pipe beneath San Antonio's streets can deliver
1 billion gallons of recycled water to commercial and industrial customers
each year for non-potable uses.
Factories, golf courses, athletic complexes and other water-intensive businesses
can make use of this near-drinking-water-quality resource, saving our fresh
water supplies for drinking and other uses.
50% more customers,
0% more water used
San Antonio's cheapest source of water is conservation — water we don't use.
That's why our proven conservation programs have become a cornerstone of
our long-term water management strategy. How do we know conservation
works? Despite a 50 percent increase in customers over the same period, the
volume of water distributed by SAWS remained the same in 2007 as in 1987.
Our management plan establishes an aggressive conservation goal of 116
gallons per-person-per-day during normal conditions. To meet that goal, SAWS
will step up efforts to promote more efficient landscape water use through
education, outreach and drought ordinance rules. We will also continue to
promote indoor conservation through high-efficiency fixtures for homes and
businesses.
With your help, we can keep SAWS rates
among the lowest in the nation, while
managing tomorrow's water today.
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