San Antonio Water System’s Resource Compliance division focuses on two state-mandated programs — Storm Water and Pretreatment — under the Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, to protect storm water and wastewater quality, including permitting and monitoring discharges from various types of industries.
As part of the storm water program, a water quality monitoring program to improve the quality of surface water flowing has been implemented for the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4), which discharges into both the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone and other local streams.
SAWS also is required to monitor certain types of industries to ensure they do not impact the treatment system, which also has to meet permitted discharge limits and loading requirements. The pretreatment program focuses on industrial wastewater that could be discharged into the sanitary sewer system. Program responsibilities are accomplished through a series of permitting, educational, investigative and enforcement activities.