SAWS

San Antonio Water System recently sent out 300,000 letters notifying customers about possible lead in their water pipes. If your home was built before 1989, then you received a letter. But there is no reason to panic. SAWS CEO Robert Puente joins us to answer your questions.

The action was in response to a new Biden administration rule that requires water systems nationwide to replace lead service lines within 10 years.

The meter will also watch for leaks. The city-owned utility plans to replace all meters by the end of 2025 — about 610,000 in total.

San Antonio has gone more than 40 days without measurable rain as of this week, the longest dry stretch since 2015.

The lost water costs the cities millions and heightens the state’s water supply challenges.

Landscape watering under Stage 3 is still allowed once a week with an irrigation system, sprinkler, or soaker hose, but the hours have shifted to 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 9 p.m. to midnight.

The rules attempt to draw savings from the very top 5% to 10% of water users. SAWS said these users are the ones driving the water utility’s failure to reach water savings goals over the last two years.

Water service was cut off from more than 600 apartment units in San Antonio on Tuesday due to non-payment from property owners. Water has now returned to most complexes but at least one remains without service.

The new rules affect watering hours, drip irrigation, non-San Antonio resident fines, and high water users.

The San Antonio City Council is scheduled to vote on June 20 on new charges as a historic, five-year drought continues.