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Supply and Demand Scenarios

Recommendations

Addendum by SAWS Board

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Original 1998 Water Resource Plan

o identify future projects that could furnish sufficient supplies to meet these demands, the Task Force established several overarching criteria to weigh the merits of each project. These criteria were: least cost, contribution to diversification, technical feasibility, and risk.

To determine the least cost alternative, the Task Force calculated the total incremental cost of each project (including operations, maintenance, and capital costs), discounted by the SAWS weighted average cost of debt. These total cost figures were then used to assess the expected annual cost per acre-foot of yield for each project.

Contribution to diversification was evaluated by analyzing the incremental impact of each project on the percentage of non-Edwards Aquifer supplies in 2050.

Technical feasibility was divided into two general areas: availability of supply and constructability.

Finally, a risk matrix allowed for consideration of legislative and regulatory risks, as well as other factors.

Based on the results of this in-depth analysis, the Task Force recommends that the Board of Trustees authorize SAWS to undertake the following actions to ensure that it can provide the additional water supplies required under PS1 and accommodate the growth anticipated under PS2, if the greater San Antonio community elects to have SAWS serve as a regional wholesale water provider.

Edwards Supply
The Task Force recommends that SAWS solidify and increase its Edwards Aquifer supply. A portion of this strategy involves converting existing leases (currently 25,000 acre-feet) to permanent water purchases. An additional 35,000 acre-feet of water rights will also be acquired to supplement shortterm supply needs and facilitate better management of the Edwards Aquifer.

Recharge Initiative
The Task Force recommends that SAWS continue to actively participate in the Nueces River Basin Feasibility Study and Cibolo Creek Watershed Feasibility Study. Both studies are on-going and contain local and federal partners. In addition, a continued effort will be made with the EAA to solidify the recharge credit rules.

Brackish Groundwater
The Task Force recommends that SAWS pursue a brackish groundwater desalination project to assist in diversifying overall supplies. This project could generate a moderately sized (up to 10,000 acre-feet) water supply facility with the potential to offset summer “peaks”. Innovative procurement methods, such as Design Build Operate (DBO) and Build Own Operate Transfer (BOOT) should be explored, because estimates of savings through this approach are likely to be 20- 30% of lifecycle costs.

Regional Carrizo
The Task Force recommends that SAWS hire an outside consultant to conduct an independent and objective evaluation of the management and phase options for this project. This evaluation should result in a determination of the most effective approach to the design and implementation of the Regional Carrizo project.

LCRA-SAWS
The Task Force recommends that this project continue to be explored as an option for meeting long-term needs. However, renegotiation of the existing contract within the project’s statutory constraints is necessary to more competitively address cost, control, yield, and the timing of the water delivery.

Simsboro
The Task Force recommends termination of the existing contract with Alcoa in accordance with its terms and use. With respect to SAWS-owned water rights, SAWS should explore the possible use or disposition of these rights, as opportunity allows.

Lower Guadalupe Water Supply Project
The Task Force recommends that SAWS end its participation in the Lower Guadalupe Water Supply Project due to the continued uncertainty with the surface water and groundwater regulatory environment of the project area.

Other Potential Projects
The Task Force recommends that SAWS continue evaluations of other potential water supply projects, including but not limited to: Coastal Desalination, Recharge and Recirculation, Mesa Water Supply Project, Trinity Aquifer, and Western Edwards Water projects.

Combined, these recommendations enable SAWS to provide affordable, diversified, and sufficient water supplies to meet demand in both PS1 and PS2. PS1, which is described fully in Section 5.2, is based on 1984 planning year conditions. In the short-term, the need for additional supplies are met by converting Edwards Aquifer leases to permanent acquisitions and acquiring additional Edwards Aquifer supplies through 2010.

By the end of 2006, SAWS will have outlined its plans for the development of the Brackish Desalination project; this project is expected to be brought on line by 2010. After 2010, another non-Edwards Aquifer supply, the Regional Carrizo project is introduced. In order to meet longterm needs, the Recharge Initiative project is implemented. Under these planning assumptions, all of the projected demands through the year 2050 are met.

To accommodate demand in PS2 (which similar to PS1 is based on 1984 planning year conditions and described in Section 5.2) the Edwards Acquisition program is again accelerated to meet short-term demands between 2006 and 2010. Due to increases in the short-term shortfall, the Regional Carrizo project is brought on line in 2008, followed by Brackish Desalination in 2010. The Recharge and LCRA-SAWS projects are available to meet long-term demands. Using these planning assumptions, all of the projected demand in PS2 is met through 2050.