In summer, outdoor watering can greatly increase household water use, especially if you have an in-ground sprinkler system. That’s because a single irrigation cycle can use 2,000 to 3,000 gallons or more. And even small inefficiencies — like leaks or frequent scheduling — can waste thousands of gallons more, leading to a hefty water bill.… Continue Reading Water smarter this summer
Winter is the ideal time to let your sprinklers sleep because your lawn is snoozing too. And that’s a good thing since we’re starting off 2026 still under watering rules — and in drought. Back-to-back years of record heat paired with a severe lack of rainfall continue to challenge the Edwards Aquifer. This means Stage… Continue Reading Let your sprinklers slumber on — it’s winter, and we’re still in Stage 3
Recent dramatic (and sadly deadly) rain events remain fresh in our minds. So it seems odd to many that despite being inundated with rainfall, we are still solidly in drought — and Stage 3 watering rules. A little more than half the water our community uses comes from the Edwards Aquifer. This vast underground system… Continue Reading Drought persists despite recent downpours
Six years into a record-breaking drought and counting, San Antonians know their well-practiced, water-wise routines by heart: following once-a-week watering rules, getting rid of some grass (to prep for drought-hearty planting later) and being mindful of leaks. To these water-savvy citizens we offer a heartfelt thank you. Our landscapes may look a little crispy, but… Continue Reading Working together for a water-secure San Antonio
Spring has sprung, though it’s a little hard to believe — partly because our plants look just OK, not great. But mostly because we haven’t had any meaningful rain in quite some time. The sad truth is we are still in drought. In fact, this is our sixth dry spring in a row — and… Continue Reading Years-long drought not expected to depart anytime soon
Despite a wetter-than-normal July, August came and went with little meaningful rainfall — and forecasters say there’s not much relief in sight. And so year five of San Antonio’s current drought marches on. On the plus side, the new watering rules are helping. Since Stage 3 was declared in June, SAWS customers have been using… Continue Reading Your questions answered about the new watering rules
San Antonio Water System customers will have new watering rules effective immediately, after the change was approved at today’s City Council meeting. The watering rule changes include new watering hours, a non-compliance charge instead of a municipal process and an update to drip irrigation. The updates, which are part of the 2024 Water Conservation Plan,… Continue Reading City Council Approves New Watering Rules for SAWS Customers
Don’t let the spring rains and green grass fool you: San Antonio is in the fifth year of a drought. While landscape watering rules have helped us weather droughts in the past, our per-person water use has been inching higher. That’s why SAWS is proposing reasonable adjustments to our drought plan – to save water… Continue Reading Proposed drought rule changes: Top 5 things you need to know
Watering hours in Stage 2 have been 7-11 a.m. and 7-11 p.m. for over five years and people have gotten used to them. So why is SAWS proposing a change? One reason: many people have expressed a desire to water earlier in the morning. Another reason is energy use. Those evening watering hours of 7-11… Continue Reading The (watering) times, they are a-changin’
San Antonio has been under Stage 2 watering rules for more than two years. Unfortunately, the Edwards Aquifer is not expected to recover this summer. That means even more pumping cutbacks are expected, along with the need to further reduce water demand. SAWS has never imposed its current Stage 3 rules, which would limit landscape… Continue Reading New Stage 3 watering rules proposed
