Edwards Aquifer News for 2024

June 2024

San Antonio enters Stage 3 drought rules

On June 25, San Antonio entered Stage 3 drought rules, and it marked the first time the city has implemented this Stage. New drought rules approved by City Council also became effective, as outlined in the news item below.

San Antonio City Council approves new drought rules

On June 20, the San Antonio City Council voted unanimously to adopt new drought and watering rules. Mayor Ron Nirenberg called the new regulations "a desperately needed update to reflect the times that we're living in." The updated rules include triggers for entering drought stages, new watering times, fines for violators instead of municipal citations, high-use surcharges, and new limits on drip irrigation systems. SAWS new drought restrictions are here, and a summary of the changes is below:

Non-Compliance Charge:
A condition of service rule requiring all customers to follow drought rules or otherwise be subject to a Non-Compliance Charge that would appear on water bills. This would replace the municipal citation process and enable SAWS to hold all customers accountable whether they are inside or outside of City limits. Residential customers receiving their first violation may avoid the charge by electing to take a water education class.

Drought Surcharge:
Implement a Stage 3 high use surcharge instead of every other week watering. Most of the community follows the rules, but during drought about 10% of the community does not. This surcharge sends high users a financial signal to reduce outdoor water use.

Drip Irrigation:
Limit drip irrigation during drought stages. Drip irrigation applies water at a rate similar to spray irrigation. Spray irrigation systems are limited to use during certain days during drought conditions. The current rules permit daily watering with drip and are viewed as a "loophole" that allows extra watering. Additionally, many people use excessive water as they mistakenly believe it needs to run longer.

Irrigation System Quality:
Improve the quality of new home irrigation systems because data shows that inefficient, badly designed irrigation can cause unnecessarily high-water use.

Alignment to EAA Stages:
Misalignment between the Edwards Aquifer Authority (EAA) and SAWS drought stages causes customer confusion and makes it difficult to convey the true severity of drought. Section 34-319 makes entry to stage 3 automatic when the EAA enters drought stage 3. Also aligns Stage 4 to EAA stage 4.

Flow Restrictors:
This is a practice used by other utilities around Texas to reduce flow and thereby reduce water waste. This would be applied at locations that have repeated or continued violations, documented by trained personnel and only after the account holder has received notice and has had an opportunity to come into compliance. Section 4.8.8 of the utility service regulation would permit the installation of flow restrictors where needed.

Access to Premises:
Eliminates time restriction language so that SAWS trained personnel may perform all necessary maintenance, repairs, and inspections concerning conservation when necessary. Also specifically establishes that it is an automatic violation of Article IV to refuse SAWS trained personnel entry.

Turfgrass Soil Support:
Clarifies that the four-inch soil requirement must be met after sod is laid meaning that once the sod is settled and watered, there must be four-inch deep soil. Also adds a minimum requirement for soil organic matter.

Enforcement Provisions:
Consolidated enforcement provisions and broadened potential application beyond water waste.

Variances:
Simplified the procedural language and clarified SAWS conservation's ability to exercise reasonable flexibility in issuing variances.

Watering Times:
Changing watering windows to help manage the community's energy needs.

May 2024

SAWS Board approves new drought rules

On May 23, the SAWS Board of Trustees approved changes to drought rules that will now move to City Council for final consideration. If approved, there will be new limitations on use of drip irrigation systems - three days per week during Stage 1 drought restrictions, two days per week in Stages 2 and 3, and one day per week in Stage 4. Also, Stage 3 for SAWS customers would be triggered when the Edwards Aquifer Authority enters its Stage 3 restrictions.

In addition, Stage 2 watering hours would shift from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 9 p.m. to midnight. Currently outdoor watering is allowed from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. SAWS said the change is necessary because of discussions with CPS Energy about the need to reduce energy use from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Also, watering violations would move from the municipal citation process to a fee on customers' bills, and a surcharge would be added for high-volume water users during Stage 3 conditions. The fees would be intended to send a financial signal to high-volume users. Residential customers who use more than 20,000 gallons in a month would be charged $10.37 for every 1,000 gallons over that threshold.

If approved by City Council, bill surcharges could begin in July and watering hours could take effect immediately. The City Council was scheduled to discuss the changes at a June 12 meeting before voting on June 20.

Native mussels reintroduced to upper San Antonio River

Many decades ago, native freshwater mussels were reported to be abundant in the upper San Antonio River, but few could survive after straightening and channelization projects in the 1950s removed their habitat south of downtown. After habitats were restored with the Mission Reach project in 2013, the San Antonio River Authority began assessing whether they could now survive and results were positive. So in May of 2024 about 5,000 sandshell mussels raised in a lab were placed in the River along the Mission Reach, with hopes the species presence can be revived.

Three other mussel species will be reintroduced over the next year, and mussels are important for a river's ecology because they are filter-feeders, straining out algae and bacteria from the water. They are known as "the liver of the river." Native mussels are also beneficial to other species in the river - when mussels thrive there are more aquatic insects, which means there are more fish.

SARA's Manager of Environmental Sciences Shaun Donovan said "The fact that we can put in native freshwater mussels that need good water quality, need good habitat, and have confidence that they're going to survive and be successful - people should have pride in that. It's a community accomplishment."

April 2024

River otters return to San Marcos River

In April, officials at The Meadows Center confirmed the return of river otters to the San Marcos River, which had not been sighted there since the 1950s. Students walking along the river boardwalk first reported an otter in 2021, and now the Meadows Center confirmed four additional sightings.

Biology professor Ivan Castro-Arellano said the river otters are an indicator species, whose presence, absence, or abundance in an environment serves as a sign of the overall health of that ecosystem.

The positive state of the San Marcos River is generally attibuted to the Edwards Aquifer Habitat Conservation Plan, which has implemented many measures to improve and stabilize the habitats for endangered species.

March 2024

Spotted gar in San Antonio River is sign of improved habitat

In March, biologists conducting a fish survey in the San Antonio River Authority found spotted gar for the first time, in a sign that habitats in the River are continuing to improve after the Mission Reach restoration project. The spotted gar has ancestors that date back 100 million years and is native to Texas and the San Antonio River, but had not been present for many decades.

After the Mission Reach restoration project was completed in 2013, many species began returning to the upper San Antonio River. The River Authority began conducting surveys in 2021 and this year noted the presence of 25 different fish species.

February 2024

San Marcos to start can ban on River May 1

The San Marcos City Council voted to approve an ordinance banning single-use beverage containers that will take effect May 1. It applies to containers such as bottles, cans, and juice boxes, while reusable food containers are still allowed. The city plans to have "go zones" farther from the River where all containers are still allowed, and "no go zones" closest to the River where they are prohibited.

Also, San Marcos will limit cooler sizes to 30 quarts or less on or in portions of the public waterway that lie within city park property.

Spearfishing tournament aids endangered species conservation

In February, the Polespear Tournament was held in the San Marcos River to aid in protection and conservation of endangered species by removing invasive tilapia and suckermouth catfish. The tournament is held twice a year, usually in November and February, and up to 60 participants can sign up for assigned spearfishing slots over a two week period. Whoever spears the most fish gets bragging rights and a $300 prize, but all are winners because they are removing fish that cause erosion in the riverbanks and affect the food chain in the sensitive spring-fed ecosystem.

Event organizer Nick Mendoza said "They're passionate about they're doing, removing these fish. The event is really about river stewardship and doing their part to help the endangered species that struggle to compete with the hardier invasive species."

Afterwards, the tilapia are turned into fish tacos and given out to the public at a fish fry event.

City, SAWS, and public health department oppose Guajalote Ranch permit

On February 12, San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg advised City Council he had filed a request asking the TCEQ to reconsider the proposed wastewater discharge permit for Gualajote Ranch. Also, in a joint filing, the San Antonio Water System and Metro Health submitted a letter of intent to contest the permit. More than 80 parties submitted similar letters of intent, but it is likely that not all will be granted "affected party" status if a hearing is granted.

In his letter to TCEQ, Nirenberg requested reconsideration of the preliminary decision to issue a permit because "the proximity to the discharge area in the extraterritorial jurisdiction of the City and the adverse effects arising from any potential accidental or excessive discharges pose a threat to the City."

SAWS President and CEO Robert Puente said SAWS filed for affected party status because it wishes to remain involved in the discussion that will follow. "We understand the developer is still talking to the other protestants to see what kind of concessions can e made on both sides, so we want to still be a part of that," he said.

January 2024

TCEQ OKs draft permit for Guajalote Ranch wastewater discharge

After signaling last May that it would likely not block a wastewater discharge permit for Guajalote Ranch, the TCEQ in January sent a letter to the applicant for the permit that said the proposed plant and permit "meets the requirements of applicable laws."

That correspondence opens a one-month window for opponents to request a reconsideration of the proposed permit or request a contested case hearing on the permit. Such a hearing can only be requested by people determined to be an "affected person", who can describe how and why they would be adversely impacted "in a manner not common to the general public."

The TCEQ Commissioners will then decide whether or not to grant a hearing and who has party status. If a hearing is granted, the matter is referred to the State Office of Administrative Hearings and the process can be lengthy, typically taking several years. The Administrative Laws Judge assigned to the matter will then prepare a Proposal for Final Decision, and the matter goes back to the TCEQ Commissioners for final consideration, which can take another 4-6 months.