SAWS Granted Permits for One of its Largest Non-Edwards Supplies
The San Antonio Water System moved toward securing one of the largest non-Edwards Aquifer supplies in its history. The Gonzales County Underground Water Conservation District will permit SAWS to move up to 11,687 acre-ft of Carrizo Aquifer water from Gonzales County.
The SAWS Regional Carrizo Aquifer Project is estimated at $131 million, with water for approximately 40,000 households expected to start flowing in late 2013.
In 2006, SAWS applied for permits from GCUWCD to produce Carrizo Aquifer water, but the permit was formally contested by several parties. SAWS worked with its regional neighbors to reach settlement agreements, including the Schertz-Seguin Local Government Corp., Canyon Regional Water Authority, Gonzales County Water Supply Corp., and the city of Nixon.
SAWS continues to work with the Schertz-Seguin Local Government Corp. to utilize the corporation’s infrastructure to transport water from Gonzales County to San Antonio. Instead of building a new pipeline, SAWS would rent capacity in an existing pipeline owned and operated by the local government corporation.
In addition to the GCUWCD permits, SAWS could purchase surplus water from its regional neighbors. Up to 5,550 acre-ft of could be added to the project, for a total supply to San Antonio of up to 17,237 acre-ft per year.
