The San Antonio Water System (SAWS) board unanimously approved a set of stricter drought rules yesterday that aim to tighten water use as the city continues to grapple with drought conditions. The proposed changes, which were first presented last August, include a direct charge on water bills for violations instead of the current requirement of a $137 fee and a municipal court appearance. According to a report by the San Antonio Report, SAWS is looking to shift how Stage 3 and Stage 4 drought restrictions are triggered, including a drought surcharge for high-use customers and modified watering hours.
Issues concerning water conservation were thoroughly debated for over two and a half hours during a special meeting, featuring diverse public input from local residents, environmentalists, and those working in landscaping. Amy Hardberger, a trustee on the board, stressed the necessity of these changes, citing increased water usage during times of significant drought conditions. "The biggest concern to me driving the urgency of this situation is watching water use go up when it should be going down and these hot times," Hardberger told the San Antonio Report. "So clearly what we’re doing is no longer working for a myriad of reasons. Maybe this will address it."
One of the marked changes aimed at streamlining water conservation measures is the alteration of rules for drip irrigation systems. Previously allowed daily, these systems will now be permitted up to three times a week depending on the current drought stage. This move is designed to close a "loophole" that saw drip irrigation being considered a more water-efficient method despite evidence that such systems can use nearly a gallon of water per hour. SAWS Vice President of Conservation, Karen Guz, relayed this concern, saying, "People think because it’s called 'drip' it doesn’t use much water... Well... sometimes those emitters can put out almost a gallon an hour." Mayor Ron Nirenberg, also a SAWS trustee, emphasized the need for a robust public education campaign on proper irrigation use, according to his comments at the meeting.
The San Antonio City Council is set to be briefed on these proposed changes on June 12, with a vote tentatively scheduled for June 20. Once approved, the changes could be implemented by mid-July. This action comes after SAWS has been enacting Stage 2 drought restrictions since spring last year, with the city experiencing varying degrees of drought over the past five years. Guz noted an uptick in community engagement regarding water use in anticipation of the new Stage 3 surcharge. "By no means is it too late to help us this year," Guz said, acknowledging the growing public interest in the issue.
Enforcement of current city ordinances continues unabated until the new measures possibly roll out in July. SAWS's initiative is part of a larger effort to align landscaping codes with the harsh realities of an enduring drought, an issue Nirenberg is keen on addressing as the city enters the heat of the summer. "Needless to say great work, [I’m] ready to support it, [I’m] ready for this to get to council," he said in his remarks during the meeting.
