San Antonio Leads Water Savings

Conservation, anti-evaporation and desalination are at the forefront San Antonio’s water savings efforts. EG details the city’s efforts, including giving away efficient toilets

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What Happened?

San Antonio was recently named “Water’s Most Resourceful City” after addressing rising demands and dwindling supplies with new storage techniques, water recycling and desalination projects. All of the city’s water programs focus on conservation to make optimal use of remaining supplies while supporting a booming population.

The Goal

NPR reported the list of water conservation projects being spear-headed in San Antonio is constantly growing. The most prominent effort has been to curb evaporation, which dwindles valuable water supplies as a result of inefficient storage and use. The city enacted an ordinance prohibiting residents from watering outside after 10 AM and before 8 PM, when the sun and rising temperatures play a greater role in water evaporation.

San Antonio houses the nation’s largest recycled water system that leverages more than 110 miles of pipeline transporting recycled water to parks, buildings and a river walk. With the use of organic biosolids from treating wastewater in compost generation, the recycled water system providing a green energy benefit. The biosolids and methane gas generated from the treatment process can be sold as energy sources to fuel economic activity.

The city has also launched a desalination project to tap into alternative sources of water outside of the Edwards Aquifer, which is running low amid drought conditions. The desalination project converts salty water from the nearby Wilcox Aquifer into drinkable water, while the Regional Carrizo Project diversifies San Antonio’s water sources to meet immediate needs and sustain long-term goals.

Another popular program has been San Antonio’s push to give out more than 250,000,000 water-efficient toilets to residents to reduce overuse. Homeowners can sign up for a free audit to learn how better to save water in their homes and through daily tasks.

Lending a Hand

If an assessment shows a need for pipes to be replaced, San Antonio has a solution for that as well; Plumbers to People. The San Antonio Water System (SAWS) – the body in charge of all the water conservation projects – is providing low-income households with financial assistance so they can repair leaking pipes or replace broken fixtures. When residents leave the pipes in need or repairs or replacement, their water bills go up and water waste skyrockets as well.

Furthermore, SAWS offers an affordability discount for low-income residents who struggle to pay their water bills on a regular basis. The discount ranges from $3.63 to $13.63 per month, based on the household size, income and types of services being used.

For residents with unique circumstances that may inhibit on-time payments, SAWS launched project agua. This initiative provides residents with one-time payment assistance to pay their water bill after meeting the Federal Income Assistance Guidelines. Through contributions from individual SAWS customers, project agua has been able to keep the water on for households throughout the community in times of need.

Protecting Water Sources

Gov1 has kept an eye on water conservation projects that focus on technology-driven solutions to meet increased demands.

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