Plan focuses on sewage plants and other aging infrastructure
After nearly a year of belt tightening and budget scrutiny, SAWS leaders are presenting a proposed rate plan to the utility’s Board of Trustees and San Antonio City Council.
Public meetings have been taking place since January to gather community feedback.
While SAWS has been ahead of the nation on securing the city’s water supply for the next fifty years and completing sewer upgrades mandated by federal regulators, the proposed rate plan focuses on citywide infrastructure — mainly at aging wastewater recycling centers.
SAWS is currently operating with essential systems dating back as far as the early 1900s. Other cities have shown that delaying repairs can lead to much higher costs and even cause environmental disasters that extend beyond the communities they serve.
To meet these challenges, SAWS is introducing a transparent, four-year rate plan with the most timely, cost-efficient strategy in mind: an adjustment of less than $5 a month over each of the next four years for the average residential customer.
Even with these changes, SAWS rates will remain among the lowest in Texas. And our Uplift financial assistance program will expand to protect even more of our most vulnerable neighbors.
This investment makes sure that as our city grows, our water system stays ahead of the curve rather than falling behind.
Proposed four-year rate schedule
*Based on average residential bill, 6,275 gallons of water and 5,052 gallons of wastewater excluding fees. If the rate adjustment is approved, the SAWS Uplift assistance program will expand eligibility from 125% to 150% of the federal poverty line to help more people.