San Antonio District 8 City Councilman Ron Nirenberg is asking for a comprehensive water plan through the year 2050.
The plan would include how city growth patterns will impact the Edwards Aquifer and San Antonio Water System. Nirenberg said the number one threat to the state's economy and future prosperity is water scarcity.
In a request to the city staff, he outlined a compilation of all city policies, procedures, standards and regulations into one place so that council members can easily understand the water situation now and for the future.
"Everything that we do at the city impacts in some way our plan and need for water supplies in the future, and we need to start understanding the implications of policy-making at that level," he said. "Water scarcity being again the number one issue we will face in the state and this region, we should be making decisions accordingly."
One of Nirenberg's concerns that he outlines in his request is managing growth over the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone. Nirenberg said not planning properly for the future will have severe consequences for San Antonio.
"It's something that has been important to me as a private citizen, it was important during my campaign and it's going to be important as a policy-maker in San Antonio, so we need to move forward as a city on this," said Nirenberg.
This is the first request of this kind, said Nirenberg, and he's hoping it's a topic everyone wants to take time to consider and talk about.
