water forum v - Mission Verde Alliance

WATER FORUM V
SAN ANTONIO WATER: A NEW ERA
The SA Clean Tech Forum will be presented at a later date on KLRN for primetime broadcast in San Antonio and across
Texas via the Texas Association of Public Broadcasters, twelve Texas PBS stations.
forum agenda
water forum V: a regional forum on our future
the joy of water
San Antonio is special in so many ways, but one of the most important
reasons is due to the love, respect, and appreciation the people of our
region have for water.
Water is the center of birth and baptism. Many of the simple joys of life
involve water: catching a sunfish; floating down the Comal in a tube or the
Guadalupe in a canoe; being pounded by the surf; walking barefoot on the
beach at twilight; discovering fascinating birds in the Gulf coast wetlands;
and visiting the historic Missions while strolling down the edge of the San
Antonio river.
Our region is blessed with one of the finest aquifers in the nation; THE finest river walk in the world; an
inland Sea World; and the nation’s most celebrated water park. Two of our most popular resorts offer a
float around a “lazy river” and an abundance of refreshing, soothing, bubbling water fountains, sprays
and slides.
Hydraulic fracking has brought enormous economic benefits to this region, including tens of thousands
of high paying jobs in the Eagle Ford. And the operative word is “hydraulic” Without sufficient water, the
Eagle Ford opportunity would only be a frustrating dream.
So how are we managing our precious water
resources? Not bad for now. We lead the nation
in water conservation and water reuse. We store
water sensibly underground. We reclaim useless
brackish water for our own consumption. And we
do all this while enjoying some of the lowest water
rates in the nation.
“Water is the most critical resource issue
of our lifetime and our children’s lifetime.
The health of our waters is the principal
measure of how we live on the land. ”
Luna Leopold
So San Antonio is special, but the future will demand that San Antonio look beyond itself for solutions to
water challenges. The future will compel our community to redouble our efforts in regional collaboration.
We can do/must do so much more than we have in the past. The Vista Ridge pipeline project is a critically
important step in that process.
October 8, 2014 at Pearl Stable
EXHIBITS
10:00 am - 2:00 pm
REGISTRATION
10:00 am - 11:15 am
11:15 am All Audience Seated
PROGRAM
11:30 am - 1:30 pm
11:30 am Opening Comments - Ivy Taylor, Mayor of the City of San Antonio and
Berto Guerra Jr., Chairman, SAWS
11:45 am Presentation of Water for Life Award to Joe Aceves
Moderator: Robert Rivard, The Rivard Report
12:00 pm Panel Discussion Begins
1:30 pm Adjourn, 2:00 pm Exhibits Close
PANELISTS
Andrew Sansom, Executive Director,
The Meadows Center for Water & the Environment
Bill West, General Manager,
Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority
Karen Guz, Director of Water Conservation, SAWS
Reed Williams, Board Member,
SAWS/ former SA City Councilman
Mark Rose, CEO, Bluebonnet Electric Coop
As a token of appreciation to our forum program participants we will donate each of
these five star books (a total of 18) to a library of their choice.
We also have an exciting opportunity to become a source of water solutions for a water challenged
world. World class Abengoa Water is becoming an important partner in our region. It is our responsibility
to insure that many additional world class water players join us.
“Clean Technology” is important to our future, but “Clean Water” is critical, essential and priceless. It
is who we are!
Mike Burke
Chair, Founder - San Antonio Clean Technology Forum
Elixir: A History of Water and Humankind
Brian Fagan
A River Ran Wild
by Lynn Cherry
2014 water for life award winner
2014 water for life award
Presented by the San Antonio Clean Technology Forum
Recognizing an individual in the Greater San Antonio region who has made a water
related substantial and significant contribution to the quality of life in our community.
Joe Aceves
The contribution(s) may relate to water: management, policy formation, regulation,
education, consensus building, legislation, distinguished leadership, community
service and/or technological innovation.
First CEO of San Antonio Water System (1992-1997)
Joe oversaw the initial formation and development of SAWS through merging three
city departments. And most recently, he successfully led the integration of BexarMet’s
previous customers into the SAWS system. Both major initiatives were extremely well
orchestrated under his leadership.
Areas to be recognized may include water supply, storage, reuse, quality, conservation
and waste water, land use, water/resource management and beautification issues.
The award will recognize currently active contributors or those whose contributions
were in the past.
2014 wATER FOR LIFE AWARD JUDGES
Wayne Alexander
Chair Emeritus, Port San Antonio
Luana Buckner
Chair, Edwards Aquifer Authority
Mike Burke
Chair/Founder, San Antonio Clean
Technology Forum
Frank Burney
Managing Partner, Martin Drought
Stephanie Chandler
Partner, Jackson Walker
Steve Clouse
EVP/COO, San Antonio Water Systems
Velma Danirlson
Principal, Blanton and Associates
Cris Eugster
EVP and Chief Generation & Strategy Officer
Steve Graham
Assistant General Manager,
San Antonio River Authority
Robert Gulley
Water Consultant and Author
Jonathan Gurwitz
Director of Public Affairs,
KGB Texas
Alex Hinjosa
Deputy Managing Director,
North American Development Bank
Wesley Patrick
Vice President,
Southwest Research Institute
Michael Irlbeck
Director of Business Development,
Abengoa Water USA
Howard Peak
former Mayor, City of San Antonio
Carroll Jackson
Senior Executive VP, Morgan Stanley
Rosemary Kowalski
Community Leader
Weir Labatt
Old Man Water
Mike Lackey
President, Lackey de Carvajal; SARA Board
Lyle Larson
Texas State Representative District 122
Bill Moll
retired President, KLRN
Steve Seidel
Managing Partner, Winstead PC
Julia Murphy
Executive Director, Green Spaces Alliance
Les Shephard
Executive Director,
Texas Sustainable Energy Research Institute
Katie Harvey
CEO/Founder, KGB Texas
Tom Papagiannakis
Chair, Dept Civil/Environmental
Engineering, UTSA
Howard Hicks
Vice President of Public Affairs, Holt Cat
Louis Rowe
President, TTG Engineering;
SAWS Board of Director
Frank Ruttenberg
Partner, Haynes & Boone
Mike Novak
Entrepreneur, Former Bexar County
Commissioner
Mike Beldon
First Chair of Edwards Aquifer
Inspirational leadership and consensus building of
extremely diverse interests at a critically point in time
for stewardship of the Edward Aquifer in this region.
Calvin Finch
Raul Rodriguez
Distinguished Professor, Banking/Finance,
Incarnate Word University
Francesca McCann
CEO, Abengoa Water USA
Amy Harderger
Assistant Professor of Law,
St. Mary’s University
2014 finalists
Carl Raba
Chairman Emeritus,
Raba Kistner
Diana Liebmann
Partner, Energy and Power,
Haynes and Boone
Ron Nirenberg
Councilman, City of San Antonio
2012
Bob Rivard
Founder, Rivard Report
Roland Ruiz
General Manager,
Edwards Aquifer Authority
Karen Guz
Director of Water Conservation, SAWS
previous winners
Director, Texas A&M Water Conservation and Technology Center
dr. robert gulley
former Executive Director
Edwards Aquifer Habitat
Conservation Plan
2013
Scott Storment
Executive Director, Mission Verde Alliance
Tim Trevino
Interim Executive Director, AACOG
Andrew Sansom
Executive Director, The Meadows Center for Water
and the Environment
Served as Executive Director of Texas Parks and Wildlife
Department; founded Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation;
and added over 500,000 acres to the State Parks.
Suzanne Scott
General Manager, San Antonio River Authority
Susan Stuver
Research Scientist, Texas A&M University
Warren Sumner
CEO, Omni Water Solutions
Played a major role at SAWS in establishing San
Antonio as the nation’s leader in water conservation.
Weir Labatt
Old Man Water
Leading the largest urban river restoration project
currently under implementation in the nation and in the
protection of Texas’s watersheds, bays and estuaries.
water forum v planning Committee
innovation level sponsors
Mike Beldon
Chair, Beldon Enterprises
Jonathan Gurwitz
Director of Public Affairs, KGB Texas
Bob Rivard
Founder, Rivard Report
Donovan Burton
Chief of Staff, SAWS
Calvin Finch
Directo, Texas A&M Water Center
Louise Burke
Community Volunteer
Karen Guz
Director of Water Conservations, SAWS
Raul Rodriguez
Distinguished Professor – Banking/
Finance, Incarnate Word University
Mike Burke
Chair/Founder, San Antonio Clean
Technology Forum
Katie Harvey
CEO/Founder, KGB Texas
Frank Burney
Managing Partner, Martin Drought
Alex Hinojosa
Deputy Managing Director,
North American Development Bank
Steve Clouse
VP/COO, SAWS
Carroll Jackson
Senior VP, Morgan Stanley
Velma Danielson
Principal, Blanton & Associates
Edward Kelley
Board of Directors, CPS Energy
Sam Dawson
CEO, Pape-Dawson
Weir Labatt
Old Man Water
Steve Graham
Assistant General Manager,
San Antonio River Authority
Francesca McCann
CEO, Abengoa Water USA
Andrew Sansom
Executive Director of the Meadows
Center for Water and the Environment
Suzanne Scott
General Manager, San Antonio River
Authority
Scott Storment
Executive Director, Mission Verde
Alliance
Andrea Sosa
Program Director, KLRN
Tim Trevino
Interim Executive Director - AACOG
Bill Moll
retired President, KLRN
Robert Gulley
Water Consultant and Author
Roland Ruiz
General Manager,
Edwards Aquifer Authority
Bill West
General Manager, GBRA
Wes Patrick
Vice President,
Southwest Research Institute
Limestone, shale, and clay younger
than Edwards limestone
The Edwards Aquifer
Comal
Edwards limestone
Kinney
Uvalde
Medina
Bexar
Guadalupe
A
N
NW
Limestone, shale, and clay older
than Edwards limestone
Atascosa
Fault lines
Depth
(feet)
0‘
Kinney
County
A
Bracketteville
Uvalde
Sabinal
1000 ‘
2000 ‘
3000 ‘
Hays
County
San Antonio
Guadalupe
County
Comal
County
Hondo
Castroville
S
County lines
Bexar
County
Medina
County
Uvalde
County
E
SW
W
New Braunfels
SE
Charles Fishman The Big Thirst
A’
NE
“We have taken water so much for
granted that we don’t have a good
language for talking about water,
we don’t have a politics of water,
or an economics of water. We can’t
work out whether to treat it as a
commodity, as a human right or
simply as a force of nature, like the
air we breathe.”
Hays
San Marcos
A’
panelists and speakers
ivy taylor
andrew sansom
Mayor, City of San Antonio
Executive Director, The Meadows Center for Water &
the Environment at Texas State University
Ivy R. Taylor was appointed to serve as Mayor of San Antonio on July 22, 2014. Mayor Taylor
was appointed by the San Antonio City Council to fulfill Julian Castro’s unexpired term as Mayor.
Prior to her appointment, Mayor Taylor served as the District 2 City Council Representative. Ivy R.
Taylor was elected to serve as the District 2 Representative on June 13, 2009 and served two and
a half terms for a total of five years.
Mayor Taylor currently serves on the board for Healthy Futures of Texas and Big Brothers Big
Sisters of South Texas. She has served on the City’s Planning Commission and as a Commissioner
for the City’s Urban Renewal Agency (SADA) and on the advisory board for Our Lady of the
Lake’s Center for Women in Church and Society. Mayor Taylor completed the Leadership San
Antonio class sponsored by the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, and in 2004 was
acknowledged by the San Antonio Business Journal as a “Rising Star” in their “40 under 40” class. In 2008, she completed Bank
of America’s Neighborhood Excellence Leadership Training Program.
Andrew Sansom is one of Texas Leading Conservationists. He is the former Executive Director
of Texas Parks and Wildlife and the Texas Nature Conservancy. He currently serves as Executive
Director of the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment at Texas State University. Sansom
has received numerous awards for his work, including the Chuck Yeager Award from the National
Fish and Wildlife Foundation, The Pugsley Medal from the National Parks Foundation, and the
Seton Award from the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. He is the author of
six books and a Distinguished Alumnus of Texas Tech University and Austin College.
karen guz
Berto Guerra Jr.
Chairman, San Antonio Water System
Heriberto “Berto” Guerra Jr. was appointed chairman of the San Antonio Water System Board
of Trustees in 2011. His most recent accomplishments include his work as chairman & chief
executive officer of Avanzar Interior Technologies GP, LLC. This company, in partnership with
JCI, manufactures interior parts for trucks at the Toyota truck plant in San Antonio. He also is
co-owner of Toyota of Boerne.
Director of Water Conservation, San Antonio Water System
Karen Guz is the Conservation Director for San Antonio Water System (SAWS). She leads a
team that is responsible for acquiring over 500 million gallons of peak water savings each year
through conservation education, incentives and reasonable regulation. Karen recently received
the peer selected Water Star award for career achievements in conservation management.
Her Bachelor of Science degree is from the University of Michigan and her Master of Public
Administration is from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She serves on several state
and national water committees including the AWWA Water Conservation Advisory Committee,
the TWDB Water Conservation Advisory Council and the Texas Irrigator Council.
Long active in many professional, civic and educational organizations, Guerra has served as
chairman of the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. He also serves on the boards
of CentroMed, MTC Inc. (Mi Tierra Café) and Conceptual Mindworks Inc. as well as the
development board for The University of Texas at San Antonio. He also was an organizer and
serves as vice chairman of San Antonio National Bank.
Since 2002, Guerra has served as a member of the board of trustees for Abilene Christian University and currently is a deacon
at Northside Church of Christ. He has received numerous awards and was recognized as distinguished alumnus by Texas State
University in 2007 and 2007 Business Owner of the Year by the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
mark rose
robert rivard
CEO, Bluebonnet Electric Coop
Director, The Rivard Report
Mark Rose is the General Manager and Chief Executive Officer of Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative.
Mark offers extensive experience in leading both private- and public-sector organizations, with
an expertise in government and politics.
Robert Rivard is founder and director of the Rivard Report, a fast growing digital media site
in San Antonio. He is the former editor of the San Antonio Express-News (1997-2011). He
recently formed The Arsenal Group, which offers strategic communications consulting services
and publishes The Rivard Report. Rivard has moderated a number of public policy forums in
San Antonio, many of them broadcast on public television throughout the state.
Rivard is a political science graduate from the University of Texas at San Antonio and a
graduate of Northwestern University’s Executive Management Program. He was selected by
UTSA as “Alumnus of the Year” in September 2000. He is married to Monika Maeckle who is
the Director of Integrated Communications for CPS Energy.
For the entire decade of the 1990s, Mark was general manager and CEO of the Lower Colorado
River Authority (LCRA), a conservation and reclamation district providing electric service to more
than one-million Texans throughout 53 counties. Under his leadership, the LCRA became an
agency well-respected across the board, as well as one of the best wholesale utilities nationwide,
as recognized by both Standard and Poors and Fitch IBCA.
Prior to his tenure at the LCRA, Mark was a partner in a media and public relations firm; a two term elected member of the
Austin City Council (1983 - 87); a senior executive for a state association; and a senior policy analyst for Politech Corporation.
Additionally, he spent a decade holding various positions within the Texas State Legislature, working with the Texas Senate, the
Senate Subcommittee on Energy, the Senate Subcommittee on Nomination and within the office of the Lieutenant Governor.
panelists and speakers
bill west
General Manager, Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority
W. E. “Bill” West, Jr., joined the GBRA as its new General Manager on February 1, 1994 and
assumed overall management responsibility for GBRA’s ten operating divisions throughout the
Guadalupe River Basin. Under his leadership, GBRA has embarked on a new era of economic and
natural resources development.
West began his water resources career in 1970 at the Lower Colorado River Authority. He was
promoted to System Operations Manager in 1974, to Water Resources Director in 1984, and in 1986
was named Executive Director of Natural Resources. At LCRA, Mr. West participated throughout the
Texas Water Commission adjudication of the Colorado River initiated in the early 1970’s.
He was a key negotiator in several landmark water rights cases on the Colorado River and served
on various State Water Oversight Committees appointed by the Governor. Mr. West has also
participated in the development of the Balcones Canyon Conservation Plan in Travis County for the issuance of an Endangered
Species Act 10-A permit.
reed williams
Board Member, SAWS and former SA City Councilman
Reed Williams, a distinguished member of the San Antonio Water System Board most recently
served as San Antonio City Councilman, District 8. Williams is a retired oil executive whose
work included service with Tesoro Corporation, Ultramar Diamond Shamrock and Frontier
Oil. He is also a retired U.S. Army Reserves captain. Reed has a lengthy record of community
involvement from coaching soccer to serving on the boards of the San Antonio Symphony, the
American Heart Association, and the United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County. Currently
Williams is actively involved in his family’s agribusiness operations.
“Estuaries are a happy land, rich in the continent itself,
stirred by the forces of nature like the soup of a French
chef; the home of myriad forms of life from bacteria and
protozoans to grasses and mammals; the nursery, resting
place, and refuge of countless things.”
Stanely A. Cain
The Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority takes a regional approach on
the state’s water issues. Your water industry leader, GBRA is working
to make seawater desalination a reality in Texas.
W W W. G B R A . O R G
USAA is a proud supporter
of the San Antonio Clean
Technology Forum
USAA means United Services Automobile Association and its affiliates. © 2013 USAA 149215-1013
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Jackson Walker
brings clarity to this
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Recent successes include:
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Facilitating an investor group's investment in a frac water treatment technology firm
Obtaining a retail water CCN from the TCEQ for more than 450,000 acres in West Central Texas
Facilitating the multimillion-dollar sale of a significant quantity of Texas water rights
Handling negotiations for the purchase of raw water from various river authorities and districts
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The San Antonio River gives us a healthy environment.
From the headwaters in the City of San Antonio to the Gulf waters in San Antonio Bay, the San Antonio River Watershed
is a diverse ecosystem full of abundant resources. With holistic understanding and thoughtful management of the
watershed, positive actions can be taken to minimize our impact on the aquatic and riparian habitat and support the
long-term sustainability of the river.
Our mission is to sustain the natural
environment and enhance urban spaces
through land conservation, community
engagement, and education.
What can you give the river?
GREENSATX.ORG
You can give the river a healthy future by becoming watershed wise. Implementing a sustainable land practice at your
home, such as turning your rain gutters to drain into grassy areas rather than directly to a hard surface, is a simple
action you can take that will make a positive difference for the river. Learn more about sustainability and how you
can become watershed wise by visiting the San Antonio River Authority at www.sara-tx.org. The San Antonio River
Watershed will be grateful.
Find us on Facebook
ABENGOA WATER
www.abengoawater.com
Innovative technology solutions for
sustainability
winnng photos from 2013-2014 “Picture Your World” program
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pricey designer water vs. saws edwards aquifer tap water
can you taste a difference?
Excerpts from Chapter 9
It’s Water. Of Course It’s Free
“The Big Thirst” by Charles Fishman
If you had to select a single problem with water, if you had to pick
a single reason our relationship with water is so out of whack, it is
captured in the perfectly tuned slogan: “It’s water, of course it’s free.”
Although we don’t often realize it, free isn’t that great. The lack of an
appropriate price on water, or any other resource, leads to all kinds of
inequities or inefficiencies. Water may be the most vital substance in every aspect of our human endeavor, but the economics of
water is a mash-up of tradition, wishful thinking, and poor planning.
Recently Indianapolis after seven years of no rate increase, proposed a rate increase of 17.5%. There were over 7,000 letters of
protest. One lady stated publicly, “We already pay hellacious water rates.” The “hellacious” rate was $25.50 for a home using 7,000
gallons a month. A final approval of 12% increased the bill $3 a month – still 20% below the national average.
vs
Water is about the economy. And water is far too cheap. Whether farmers flooding irrigation fields or wealthy people overwatering their landscaping the price of water is so low the cost is irrelevant.
The culture of universally cheap water means that water systems worldwide rarely charge enough to sustain themselves. They
typically perform worse and worse over time.
There is nothing unethical about managing water demand with price, and there is nothing immoral about allowing the marketplace
to allocate water.
One of the most striking changes in our relationship to water in the next 100 years will likely be that we will start using the right
water for the right purpose. You won’t use purified drinking water to flush our toilets and water our lawns.
our water for life judges couldn’t.
Population growth carries a dramatic hidden water tax- remember that even in the developed world, where our daily water use
is indulgent, we require far more water to make our electricity and our food than we use for drinking and sanitation. The typical
American uses about a 100 gallons of actual water a day; the food the typical American consumes 500 gallons a day to produce,
We must put not just a price, but a value, on the most important substance in our daily lives. Price is incredibly potent. Indeed,
if you had to pick one thing to fix about water, one thing that would help you fix everything else – scarcity, unequal distribution,
misuse, waste, skewed priorities, resistance to reuse –that one thing is its price. The right price changes how we see everything
else about water.
For the price of a single pint
bottle of purchased water, you
could fill up the same container
with pure SAWS water once a
day for 9.3 years.
are you smarter than a 7th grader?
protecting the quality of water in your home
1. Which of the following Texas heroes died in the Battle of the Alamo in March 1836?
Suggested sensible measures:
a. Davy Crockett b. James Bowie c. William B.Travis d. All of the above
2. On what date did Texas win its independence from Mexico, at the Battle of San Jacinto?
a. July 4, 1776 b. March 2, 1836 c. March 6, 1836 d. April 21, 1836
3. Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox said after World War II that Texas had contributed a
larger percentage of men to the armed forces during that war than any other state. In
all, 33 Texans won the Medal of Honor. Which of the following World War II heroes was
not born in Texas?
a. Lt. Audie L. Murphy – the most highly decorated American in the war b. General
George S. Patton – famed tank commander in Northern Africa and Europe c. General
Dwight D. Eisenhower – Supreme Allied Commander in Europe d. Admiral Chester W.
Nimitz – Commander of the Pacific Fleet after the Pearl Harbor attack
Use landscaping fertilizers and pesticides wisely.
Don’t flush medicines. Recycle auto oil.
Test the quality of your water annually.
Read your yearly water quality report.
4. All of the esteemed Mexican Texans listed below contributed to the early success of the
Republic of Texas—three of whom were among the 59 men who signed the Texas Declaration of Independence. One of
them helped win Texas independence at San Jacinto, leading a Tejano unit in the battle. He served in the Senate of the
Texas Republic and was later mayor of San Antonio. Who was he?
a. Rafael de la Garza b. Juan N. Seguín c. Lorenzo de Zavala d. Jose Antonio Navarro
5. Shortly after Texas independence in 1836, the citizens of the new Republic voted to seek annexation by the United
States, fearing another attack by Mexico. Strong opposition emerged in the U.S. Congress, led by then-congressman
John Quincy Adams. In 1845, under President James K. Polk, annexation was finally accomplished. What were the
unique aspects of the annexation?
a. Texas was able to keep its public lands b. Texas retained the right to split into five states c. Annexation was based on
a joint resolution of Congress d. All of the above
6. At least 189 Texan volunteers died at the Alamo in early March 1836, but more than 340 were killed in the Goliad
massacre later that month. Of the few who were spared at Goliad, many owed their lives to a woman later known as
the “Angel of Goliad.” Who was she?
a. Susanna Dickinson b. Francita Alavezc. Eliza Houston d. Emily West
7. The diverse topography of Texas has helped provide our state an abundance of rivers, several of which have played
important roles in Texas history. The rivers below are four of the “greatest” in Texas—at least as measured by their
length. Which of these is the longest?
a. Brazos River b. Rio Grande c. Pecos River d. Colorado River
8. Texas has never been afraid to fight for its beliefs, and there has been no shortage of battles in Texas history. The
following are four of the better known. One of these, on October 2, 1835, was the first skirmish of the Texas Revolution.
A group of revolutionary Texans, not wanting to give up the town cannon to Mexican soldiers, challenged the Mexicans
to “come and take it.” Which battle was it?
a. Battle of San Jacinto b. Battle of the Alamo c. Battle of Palo Alto d. Battle of Gonzales
9. Four of the more important treaties in Texas history are listed below. One of these treaties, signed on February 2, 1848,
ended the Mexican War, recognized the annexation of Texas to the United States (consummated nearly three years
before), and ceded to the United States Upper California (the modern state of California) and nearly all of the present
American Southwest between California and Texas. Which treaty was it?
a. Adams–Onís Treaty b. Treaties of Velasco c. Treaty of Bowles Springs d. Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
Answers on Endangered Species page.
Replace corroded pipes.
Filter your drinking water.
regional independence or interdependence
Central and South Texas Regional Water Organizations
Laura Linhart-Kistner, Executive Director
A private non-profit organization dedicated to supporting the Blue Hole Regional Park in
Wimberley from the threat of residential development.
Con Mims, Executive Director
Created to: preserve, protect, and develop water resources; provide flood control, irrigation,
& navigation; develop parks & recreational facilities; finance water supply, water treatment,
& pollution control projects; and, receive grants and loans for projects in the watershed.
Steve Liparoto, Chairman
A partnership of water supply corporations, cities and districts responsible for acquiring,
treating, and transporting potable water. Focuses on water conservation and protecting,
preserving, and restoring the purity of water.
Daniel M. Alonso, Executive Director
To foster & steward the natural resources of the San Antonio Bay estuarine system for
optimal benefit of marine life, coastal wildlife and the people who use it for recreation and
their livelihoods.
Bill West, General Manager
The Guadalupe Blanco River Authority provides stewardship for the water resources in
its ten-county statutory district, which begins near the headwaters of the Guadalupe
and Blanco Rivers, ends at San Antonio Bay, and includes Kendall, Comal, Hays, Caldwell,
Guadalupe, Gonzales, DeWitt, Victoria, Calhoun and Refugio counties.
Dianne Wassenich, Program Director
A nonprofit organization founded in 1985 to preserve public access to the San Marcos River
and protect the flow, natural beauty and purity of the river, its watershed and estuaries for
future generations.
Jeff Crosby, Executive Director
To preserve the unique natural heritage of the Guadalupe Watershed for future generations,
by protecting open landscapes, working farms and ranches, and wildlife habitat through
conservation easements, education, and outreach.
Malcolm Harris, President
Wimberley Valley Watershed Association is an organization that advocates for the cleanliness
and well-being of the Wimberley Valley. They create community awareness and a sense of
responsibility for the land and water at Jacob’s Well Natural Area through their research and
education.
Dwain W. Blaschke, Director
Gorge Preservation Society created to preserve the gorge that was forged in the Flood of
2002 below the Canyon Lake Spillway. Promotes enjoyment and conservation of unique
natural phenomenon by encouraging responsible and quality access opportunities.
LaMarriol Smith, Executive Officer
To increase and enhance the public’s knowledge, understanding and appreciation of
the natural science and aesthetics of the Guadalupe River Basin through the creation of
Environmental Learning Centers and associated educational programs.
Christy Muse, Executive Director
Promotes the protection of the Hill Country region in Texas by encouraging responsible
water practices and promoting compatible economic development that generates income
for landowners and local businesses.
Phil Wilson, General Manager
Lower Colorado River Authority plays many roles in Central Texas: delivering electricity,
managing the water supply & environment of the lower Colorado River basin, providing
public recreation areas, and supporting community and economic development.
Andrew Sansom, Executive Director
Established by Texas State University as a leadership initiative to coordinate and further
university-wide efforts in the field of aquatic resource management. Develops and promote
programs that ensure sustainable water resources for human needs, ecosystem health &
economic development.
“A river seems a magic thing. A
magic, moving, living part of the
very earth itself.”
Laura Gilpin
LOW IMPACT SUSTAINABILITY TECHNIQUES
FOR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS
IMPORTANCE OF SUSTAINABILITY TO
THE SAN ANTONIO RIVER WATERSHED
Development within the San Antonio
natural function of the watershed.
Infrastructure has been built to
direct stormwater runoff to rivers
and creeks. The reduction of open
space has removed the natural
vegetation. Data from San Antonio
River Authority (SARA) water quality
monitoring indicates that pollutants
carried by runoff are the greatest
threat to stream health. During
storm events, rainwater runoff picks
up bacteria, oils, hydrocarbons,
sediment, fertilizers and other
urbanized areas, runoff is usually
directed toward storm drains that
creeks or rivers. This is especially
problematic in urban areas during
small rain events, where the
pollutants can reduce the stream’s
kills and building concentrations of
other containments in sediment.
Ensuring the sustainability of our
rivers and creeks and the bays
involves reducing direct runoff and
capitalizing on the land’s natural
sidewalks, parking lots and streets.
In less developed areas, the runoff
a creek or river; however, in more
In the context of land management,
sustainability is the optimization
of land use to restore the natural
functions of the watershed,
including managing and cleansing
stormwater close to its source.
Sustainable projects are optimized
through Triple Bottom Line
analysis, which utilizes an objective
accounting matrix to evaluate and
seek balance among the economic,
environmental, and quality of life
project components. A balance
among these factors is best
achieved if multidiscipline teams,
including the landscape architect,
incorporate sustainable landuse best management practices
into initial site selection, project
planning, and lifecycle operations
and maintenance planning.
DESCRIPTION: Conservation design starts with site planning
to delineate areas to be protected as open space and areas
to be developed as home sites. Ideally, a conservation design
will identify unique, scenic, or significant natural features to be
preserved in large contiguous blocks. Homes and lots are then
laid out to maximize visual and physical access to the open
space. Homes are clustered together, usually in a few areas of
the site to maximize each resident’s access to the open space.
An easement or other mechanism for preserving the open space
ensures that the open space will not be developed.
ECONOMIC
Balance immediate costs with
long-term costs. A sustainable
project evaluation relies on an
analysis of return on investment
ENVIRONMENTAL over the lifecycle of the project by
factoring in front end costs of design
A sustainability outlook recognizes
and construction with operations
the value of environmental quality.
and maintenance requirements,
Green and pervious spaces can
durability and impact from stricter
raise the value of property (which
regulatory standards.
create a cleaner and healthier
environment for people (which is
3
2
DESCRIPTION: Bioswales are stormwater runoff conveyance
systems that treat stormwater and improve water quality. They
improve water quality by infiltrating the first flush of stormwater
runoff, which carries significant pollutant loads, and filtering
the large storm flows they convey. The majority of annual
precipitation comes from frequent, small rain events. Much of
the value of bioswales comes from infiltrating and filtering nearly
all of this runoff.
4
QUALITY OF LIFE
reduce the need for traditional
infrastructure (which can have
Quality of life is generally considered
to be the quality of jobs, education,
health, safety, recreation and social
interaction possible in a community.
Sustainable projects promote land
conservation, ecosystem restoration,
the shape or layout of a site can
promote on-site water retention,
decrease erosion of land and reduce
maintenance.
walking trails, recreation and
celebration of history and culture
as investments in a community’s
quality of life.
stormwater volumes and velocities,
1
For more information, contact Karen Bishop at (210) 302-3642 or visit SARA’s website at www.sara-tx.org.
DESCRIPTION: A rain garden is a form of bioretention designed
to have aesthetic appeal, as well as a stormwater function. Rain
gardens are commonly a concave landscaped area where runoff
from roofs or paving infiltrates into deep constructed soils and
subsoils. On subsoils with low infiltration rates, rain gardens often
have a drain rock reservoir and perforated drain system to convey
away excess water.
DESCRIPTION: Natural Channel design addresses the entire
stream system including its biological and chemical attributes. It is
based on the stream’s interactions with the local climate, geology,
topography, vegetation, and land use. The underlying concept of
natural channel design is to stabilize impaired stream reaches by
considering channel form and function in conjunction with “soft”
engineering treatments, such as the rock formation seen above, as
opposed to traditional “hard” engineering, such as concrete that
ignores channel function.
For more information, contact Karen Bishop at (210) 302-3642 or view the San Antonio River Basin Low Impact
Development (LID) Technical Design Manual at www.sara-tx.org.
water forum v: a regional forum on our water future
dr. robert gulley
Our conversation today could not be more timely. Later this month, the San Antonio City Council will have
the opportunity to approve the contract between the San Antonio Water System (SAWS) and the Vista Ridge
Consortium that would bring up to 50,000 acre-feet of non-Edwards Aquifer water annually to Bexar County
from Central Texas. Additionally, SAWS is engaging in initial discussions with suppliers throughout the region
to share any water from the Vista Ridge Pipeline, not needed by Bexar County. Facilitating these regional
partnerships would provide suppliers outside of San Antonio with much needed water while allowing SAWS to
keep its rates lower until the City’s population growth increases to a level that requires the full supply for its
customers.
Even with the successful completion of the Vista Ridge project, a “game changer” for this region, San Antonio
will need to continue to seek additional water resources to accommodate the city’s projected population
growth and achieve long-term water security for the City. San Antonio’s need to develop a strategy for water
security is not unique. Throughout the drought-threatened region, sources of new water are few, and the cost
of obtaining that water will only grow more expensive. Cooperative efforts are likely the only realistic solution
to these longer-term problems.
However, efforts for regional cooperation and resource sharing have a complicated history in San Antonio. In
the eighties, the City partnered with regional stakeholders in an unsuccessful effort to develop a regional plan
for water. SAWS made similar attempts to establish joint projects with the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority
and the Lower Colorado River Authority, but such efforts failed and have been abandoned.
On the other hand, the region celebrated the completion of a historic habitat conservation plan for addressing
the needs of endangered species at Comal and San Marcos springs—a problem that had threatened water
security in the region for decades.
Nonetheless, in the years that have followed, the push for regional cooperation has encountered obstacles.
Voting Rights Act litigation with the potential to overturn the current composition of the Edwards Aquifer
Authority’s Board of Directors and disputes and litigation over SAWS’ ownership of reuse water after it leaves
SAWS’ wastewater treatment plant and enters the
San Antonio River are beginning to erode the spirit of
They got it wrong when they named
regional cooperation that prevailed with the habitat
conservation plan.
So it is indeed fortuitous that the San Antonio Clean
Technology Forum had the foresight to bring together
an accomplished panel to discuss regional water
cooperation and renewed partnerships. Perhaps this
Forum will serve as a catalyst to inspire initiatives
similar to the Vista Ridge Pipeline project, or other
regional partnerships and begin removing the obstacles
to regional cooperation that have blocked successful
partnerships in the past. Regardless, it’s a topic worthy
of the Forum and will be of increasing interest and
relevance to those interested in finding solutions in a
secure water future in years to come.
“Planet Earth”
it
SAWS Presents Deal for San Antonio’s Largest non-Edwards Water Supply
New supply will secure water future while helping protect the Edwards Aquifer
San Antonio Water System officials presented a draft contract to the community today for the purchase of San
Antonio’s largest non-Edwards water supply. Through unprecedented transparency, the draft was negotiated
during posted, open meetings that were attended by the news media, elected officials, environmental groups,
and citizens.
“This is an historic agreement for San Antonio’s future,” said Berto Guerra, SAWS Chairman and head of the
SAWS negotiating team. “This new water supply will protect the Edwards Aquifer, prepare us for a drought
of record, and help ensure the city’s economic prosperity for our children and grandchildren,” added Guerra.
Since an environmental lawsuit that was filed by the Sierra Club in the 1990s, San Antonio has sought a longterm non-Edwards water supply to prepare for the city’s future while also protecting the endangered species
that rely on spring flow from the Edwards Aquifer.
Under the contract, SAWS agrees
to purchase up to 50,000 acre-feet
of water annually for thirty years,
beginning as early as 2019. The
water will be piped from the Carrizo
and Simsboro Aquifers in Burleson
County, reliable sources of supply
that contain over twelve times the
amount of water in all Texas lakes
combined.
Enough water to supply 162,000
households, the Vista Ridge Pipeline
project is the result of a proposal
submitted to SAWS by the Vista
Ridge Consortium.
“We need this water because our community is growing by 20,000 new people every year, and water from the
Edwards Aquifer is limited by law,” said Robert R. Puente, SAWS President and CEO.
“We have a chance to purchase tomorrow’s needed water at today’s prices,” added Puente. “The cost of water
will continue to climb as other cities compete for scarce water resources, so now is the time to avoid more
costly water in the future. We can’t afford to miss this opportunity.”
The contract contains numerous protections for SAWS ratepayers, maximizing cost savings and minimizing the
risks of the project. Among the benefits to SAWS ratepayers:
• San Antonio will only pay for water made available. Risk to the delivery of water falls on the private
developer, not on the SAWS ratepayer.
• The financing interest rate will be capped at no more than 0.50% from the proposed rate during negotiations,
reducing financial exposure to SAWS ratepayers.
• Most of the project cost will be fixed for 30 years, saving approximately $750 million from the originally
proposed project that had not been recommended.
• All infrastructure will be owned by SAWS after 30 years, with the ability to continue accessing the water
for an additional 30 years. The water is currently leased by the Vista Ridge Consortium through over 3,400
leases with local landowners in Burleson County.
San Antonio boasts the lowest water bill of any major city in Texas. It is currently estimated that the average
residential bill will be approximately $88 in 2020, of which no more than $12 will be needed to pay for the
water provided through the Vista Ridge Pipeline project.
“While rate increases will be required for this project in the future, we recognize that these increases will
impact some people more than others,” stated Chairman Guerra. “Therefore, we commit to implement a basic
‘lifeline’ water rate, limiting the impact of this project on low water-use customers.”
SAWS officials also reiterated an ongoing commitment to water conservation. By 2020 and every year
thereafter, SAWS will save additional 16,500 acre-feet of water, equal to the annual demand of one and half
New Braunfels.
Concerns about growth over sensitive areas of the Edwards Aquifer were also addressed. The SAWS Board has
begun a policy conversation about the utility’s impact on growth, but does not view the Vista Ridge Pipeline
project as a green light for development over the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone.
A review of Bexar Appraisal District and San Antonio Planning Department records indicates that ninety percent
of the recharge zone in Bexar County is already developed, master-planned or protected. Consequently, water
from the Vista Ridge Pipeline project would be available for every part of San Antonio, distributed from Stone
Oak in the north to the Mission Pump Station in the south.
After a three-year process to solicit and select San Antonio’s largest non-Edwards water supply, SAWS approved
a contract today with the Vista Ridge Consortium and will ask City Council for final approval in October.
With approval from City Council, the Vista Ridge Consortium would have up to 30 months to arrange financing
followed by 42 months to construct the project. SAWS payments to Vista Ridge would not begin until the
project is delivering water.
Evaporation is a big deal.
Over 50% of Texas surface water
evaporates each year.
A copy of the contract between SAWS and the Vista Ridge Consortium is available for review by the public at
www.saws.org/VistaRidge.
The population of the U.S. is 304 million. 1.1 billion
people lack adequate drinking water access; and 2.6
billion people lack basic water sanitation.
FAQ
1. Is my tap water safe to drink?
The United States enjoys one of the cleanest and safest supplies of drinking water in the world. Municipal
utilities provide water that comply with existing state and federal standards in more than 92% of cases. At the
same time, we also know that there are many unregulated contaminants in our nation’s drinking water. If you
are concerned about the safety of your drinking water, EWG suggests that you purhcase a home water filter.
EWG has developed an extensive on-line guide to choosing a water filter to help you determine which one is
right for you.
2. Is bottled water safer than tap water?
Bottled water is not necessarily any safer than tap water. In fact, some reports show that up to 44 per cent of
bottled water is just tap water � filtered in some cases and untreated in others. The problem with bottled water
is that you are never sure exactly what you are getting. Where as tap water suppliers are required to disclose
the level of any contaminant found in their supply, bottled water manufacturers have no such requirements. A
previous EWG report found that 4 out of every 5 bottled waters analyzed did not publish results of water quality
testing. In addition to the typical drinking water contaminants, bottled waters may also be contaminated with
plastic additives. Many of these additives have not been fully assessed for safety and have been shown to
migrate from the bottles into bottled water to be consumed. See EWG’s Bottled Water Quality Investigation
and Bottled Water Label Scorecard for more information.
national drinking water database
by Environmental Working Group www.erg.org
TOP RATED WATER UTILITIES FOR WATER QUALITY
1.
Arlington, TX
2.
Providence, RI
3.
Fort Worth, TX
4.
Charleston, SC
5.
Boston, MA
6.
Honolulu, HI
7.
Austin, TX
3. I’m really concerned about the contaminants in my tap water. What should I do?
EWG suggests purchasing a home water filter. EWG has developed an extensive on-line guide to water filters
to help you determine which one is right for you. If you are getting your water from a private well, EWG also
recommends getting your water tested regularly.
BOTTOM RATED WATER UTILITIES FOR WATER QUALITY
95. Houston, TX
4. Where can I get my water tested?
There are numerous labs around the country that do water testing for common contaminants. There are also
home test kits available on-line. EWG does not make any specific recommendations for labs to use or kits to
purchase. We do, however, strongly recommend that people using private wells test their water regularly. The
New Jersey Department of Health has an excellent 27 page guide to private well testing that we suggest reading.
96. Reno, NV
17. Dallas, TX
97. Riverside County, CA
29. SAN ANTONIO, TX
98. Las Vegas, NV
44. Corpus Christi, TX
99. Riverside, CA
50. Plano, TX
100. Pensacola, FL
5. What kind of water filter should I buy?
It depends what you are looking for. EWG has developed an extensive on-line guide to choosing a water filter
to help you answer this question.
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source: epa
144 ad
1804
1854
1908
1974
2009
monthly average water bill - Major US Cities, 2014
CITY
B
A
C
SANTA FE
SEATTLE
SAN FRANCISCO
ATLANTA
SAN DIEGO
BOSTON
LOS ANGELES
PHILADELPHIA
HOUSTON
BALTIMORE
INDIANAPOLIS
NEW YORK
SAN JOSE
COLUMBUS
TUCSON
FORT WORTH
DALLAS
$154
$99
$93
$92
$89
$78
$76
$66
$59
$59
$57
$57
$56
$52
$52
$47
$45
$55
$55
$49
$43
$50
$38
$37
$36
$31
$37
$33
$29
$32
$29
$24
$25
$20
$284
$153
$137
$141
$150
$118
$122
$93
$106
$88
$82
$86
$83
$75
$111
$75
$82
SAN ANTONIO
$44
$23
$74
CHICAGO
PHOENIX
FRESNO
SALT LAKE CITY
MEMPHIS
$40
$39
$29
$27
$24
$20
$12
$19
$17
$12
$60
$69
$37
$38
$36
Family of four with each person using:
B - 100 gallons/day A - 50 gallons/day C - 150 gallons/day
Source: Circle of Blue - an independent, non-partisan journalism
organization and nonprofit affiliate of the Pacific Institute
“If you could tomorrow morning make water clean in the world, you would
have done, in one fell swoop, the best thing you could have done for
improving human health by improving environmental quality.”
William C. Clark
exhibitors
By the shores of Gitchee Gumee,
By the shining Big-Sea-Water,
Stood the wigwam of Nokomis,
Daughter of the Moon, Nokomis,
Dark behind it rose the forest,
Rose the black and gloomy pine-trees,
Rose the firs with cones upon them;
Bright before it beat the water,
Beat the clear and sunny water,
Beat the shining Big-Sea-Water.
Longfellow, The Song of Hiawatha, 1855
top water books
Elixir: A History of Water and Humankind
by Brian Fagan
In making a sense of water and its place
in the development of civilization, Fagan
relates a fascinating history that shines a
light on today and is the most eye-opening
of these books. Stars 4.5
The Big Thirst: The Secret Life and
Turbulent Future of Water
by Charles Fisherman
Fishman goes on a world tour. His
memorable excursions include India, where
water is worshipped but gets no respect
and to Australia where he visits Toowoomba, the droughthit town that voted to close rather than drink its own
treated sewage. Stars 4.5
water education
The Ripple Effect: The Fate of Fresh Water
in the 21st Century
by Alex Prud’homme
This narration includes a brutal drowning
at a water works that left the people of
New Jersey drinking diluted cadaver juice,
scares about antibacterial soap, and douses with warnings
about upcoming water wars. Stars 4.0
Water: For Health, for Healing, for Life:
You’re Not Sick, You’re Thirsty!
by Dr. F Batmanghelidj
Asthma, allergies, arthritis, hypertension,
depression, headaches, diabetes, obesity.
Just some of the conditions caused by
persistent dehydration. A miracle solution that is readily
available, all natural, and free: water. Stars: 4.5
Water: The Epic Struggle for Wealth,
Power, and Civilization
by Steven Solomon
k-12 in the san antonio region
WATER CONSERVATION FOR KINDER & 1ST
Younger students will learn the concepts of saving water through
an interactive ebook and song. Additionally Karston, the EAA’s new
mascot and a huggable, lovable Texas Blind Salamander, is available to make appearances
at school programs and events.
AQUIFRIENDS FOR 2ND & 3RD (TEKS and STAAR aligned)
Super Aquifer Scientist Doc Edwards will take students on a journey through the zones
of the aquifer using technology to check in with AquiAgents (endangered species). The
AquiAgents report to Doc on the conditions of the aquifer and the importance of water
conservation.
CAREER DAYS FOR 4TH & 5TH
Geologists, hydrologists, biologists and technicians are available for Career Day and/or
science events for older elementary students. Presenters will discuss the role of the
EAA, define an aquifer, describe their job including their educational and professional
backgrounds.
SECONDARY AND AP SCIENCE CLASSES
A representative from the EAA will tailor a lesson dealing with geology or hydrology for
middle, high and AP science classes.
COLLEGIATE SCIENCE & POLICY CLASSES
A representative from the EAA will tailor a presentation dealing with geology, hydrology
or policy issues.
From the American West’s fragile water
supply to pollution of the Great Lakes
to interstate fights over water to our
embarrassingly wasteful water consumption, America
has serious water challenges in its future. Stars: 4.5
top children’s water books
National Geographic Little Kids First
Big Book of the Ocean
by Catherine Hughes
Stars: 5.0
The Drop in My Drink – The Story of
Water on our Planet
by Meredith Hooper
Stars: 5.0
•
•
•
•
•
•
The Tale of the Mysterious Chest - Kindergarten Program
Earth Explorations - First-Grade Program
Exploring Their Watershed - Second-Grade Program
Becoming an H2O Hero - Third-Grade Program
Earth Explorations - Fourth-Grade Program
A Journey From Rain to Drain - Fifth-Grade Program
Become a SAWS Student Water Investigator – Middle School SWI Academy,
Groundwater Sleuthing, AquaCity
SWI Classroom Modules/ Field Investigations/ Presentations
A River Ran Wild
by Lynn Cherry
Stars: 5.0
The Magic School Bus at
the Water Works
by Joana Cole
Stars: 4.5
SAWS innovative high school program that promotes science, water
education and civic responsibility through service learning
K-12 CLASSROOM PRESENTATIONS
•
•
•
•
Mission Reach
Be Water Wise
Flooding
Invasive Species
•
•
•
•
Water Cycle
Erosion Prevention
Riparian Wetlands
Career Day
The Aransas Project, has sued the Texas
Commission on Environmental Quality
(TCEQ), maintaining that the agency
violated the Endangered Species Act by
failing to ensure adequate water supplies
for the birds’ nesting areas. The group
attributes the deaths of nearly two dozen
whooping cranes in the winter of 2008
and 2009 to inadequate flows from the San
Antonio and Guadalupe rivers.
In March 2013, a federal court ordered
TCEQ to develop a habitat protection plan
for the crane and to cease issuing permits
for waters from the San Antonio and Guadalupe rivers. A judge amended the ruling
to allow TCEQ to continue issuing permits
necessary to protect the public’s health
and safety. An appeals court eventually
granted a stay in the order during the
appeals process.
The Guadalupe-Blanco and San Antonio
river authorities have joined TCEQ in the
lawsuit, and warn that restricting the use
of their waters would have serious effects
on the cities of New Braunfels and San
Marcos as well as major industrial users
along the coast.
The case threatens Texas’ right to
manage its rivers and could increase the
cost and difficulty of delivering water to
one of Texas’ fastest-growing regions.
GO DEEPER: To see how environmental
issues will increasingly complicate water
planning, visit www.TexasAhead.org/
texasfirst/.
TEX AS WATER DEMANDS
The TWDB reports that the state’s rapidly growing population will spur changes in
our demand for and use of water. In 2010, irrigation was projected to account for
56 percentof
of Texas’
water use,
followed by municipal use at 27 percent. By 2060,
From the Texas Comptroller
Public
Accounts
municipal water use is expected to become the largest category, at 38.3 percent of
Texas Water Report: Going
Deeper for the Solution
all water use, followed closely by irrigation at 38.1 percent.
STATE WATER DEMAND PROJECTIONS, 2010-2060
WATER DEMAND PROJECTIONS — ACRE-FEET IN MILLIONS (MAF)
25
APPROXIMATELY
22 MAF
T
20
MUNICIPAL
APPROXIMATELY
T
18 MAF
15
LIVESTOCK
STEAM ELECTRIC
MANUFACTURING
10
MINING
5
IRRIGATION
Proof #2 – 1/15/14
0
2010
2020
2030
2040
2050
2060
Source: Texas Water Development Board
6
T E X A S WAT E R R E P O R T • G oing Deeper F or T he S olu t ion
WHO OWNS TEXAS
WATER?
Untangling Texas water rights is no easy task. Ownership depends largely on where the water is located — underground,
on the surface, or in the sea — and each of those sources is regulated differently. GO DEEPER: To find out who manages your water,
visit www.TXWaterReport.org/distribution/controls.php
GROUNDWATER
Texas recognizes that a landowner owns
the groundwater (both fresh and brackish) underlying his or her land as real
property. Known as the "Rule of Capture,"
this longstanding common-law rule allows
landowners to draw as much water as
they can capture — as long as water isn't
wasted or taken maliciously — without
liability for losses to neighbors' wells,
subject to reasonable groundwater
conservation district regulations.
SURFACE WATER
State government owns all waters
flowing on the surface of Texas. The
Texas Commission on Environmental
Quality (TCEQ) issues and manages
permits based on a “first in time, first
in right” principle, meaning that those
holding the oldest permits have first
access to available water.*
SEA WATER
Texas owns its lands and the waters
above them out to the limit of “three
marine leagues” (about 10.3 miles) in the
Gulf of Mexico.
* In June 2013, the 53rd Civil District Court upheld this principle, concluding that TCEQ does not have the
authority to curtail water rights based on use instead of seniority of time. TCEQ was allowing junior rights
holders such as municipalities ahead of senior agriculture rights holders.
*
Responding to EPA’s Sewer Overflow Consent Decree with Trenchless Technology
Scott Storment, Executive Director – Mission Verde Alliance
San Antonio’s aging sewage and wastewater lines are the focal
point of a major conversation between local policymakers and
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
This infrastructure is critical to the water cycle as it moves
sewage to treatment plants before effluent is discharged to the
San Antonio River, ensuring a thriving watershed. North of Loop
1604, you have an added concern for sanitary sewer overflows (SSO) near the Edwards Recharge Zone.
In June 2013, the EPA placed SAWS under a consent decree, mandating the utility repair and address pollution from
sewer overflows within 12 years or pay fines up to $1 billion. The problem is not unique to San Antonio. More than
35 U.S. cities have similar consent decrees through the Clean Water Act.
While this EPA action is designed to protect lakes, streams and aquifers, it has the consequence of forcing potential
water rate hikes as utilities seek revenue to address an unfunded mandate. A silver lining is the economic development
and innovation it spurs as local firms step up to rehabilitate aging sewer lines with trenchless technologies that don’t
require digging up old pipes.
Trenchless technologies minimize surface disturbances compared to traditional digand-replace methods. It can reduce the number of traffic and pedestrian detours,
spare tree removal, and reduce air pollution from construction equipment. All of
these are major benefits to any community, especially for San Antonio.
Today’s “trenchless” revolution enables rehabilitation of underground utilities—
water, sewer or gas, power and communications lines—with far less time and at a
lower cost (40-50% savings in some projects) than excavation work. Slip lining and
Cured in Place Pipe (CIPP) are two primary remediation solutions recommended by the EPA.
Slip-lining entails the use of a heavy, bullet shaped device that is pulled through a sewer, cracking the old pipe while
simultaneously installing a new one as the system moves underground.
For CIPP, a large hose-like fiber tube filled with hardening chemicals is pulled through an old sewer line and pressurized
before a UV light is sent through to cure the new pipe in place.
SAWS reports that 75 percent of overflows are caused by clogs from grease in sewer lines. Grease often mixes with
“flushable” wipes and other debris to form large “rags,” leading to sewer overflows that can pollute waterways.
The long-term solution to the consent decree will rely on a combination of public awareness campaigns to address
behaviors at the root cause in addition to deploying equipment that unclogs and rehabilitates sewers with trenchless
technologies.
Inspiring our community to change behavior or enacting policies that compel change is a work in progress, but SAWS
has seen a 30 percent reduction in spills. In the meantime, trenchless rehabilitation has become a cost-effective
solution for wastewater pipe replacement. SAWS is to be commended for employing trenchless technology in
some of its sewer line replacement projects. This technology transition should be encouraged at SAWS for not only
wastewater but water lines as well.
Our aging infrastructure has been “out of sight and out of mind” far too long. Let’s seize upon this process as an
opportunity to develop local solutions to our wastewater woes.
“Water is fluid, soft, and yielding. But
water will wear away rock, which is rigid
and cannot yield. As a rule, whatever is
fluid, soft, and yielding will overcome
whatever is rigid and hard. This is another
paradox: what is soft is strong.”
Lao-Tzu (600 B.C.)
Destitute Pea Pickers in California. Mother of Seven Children.
Photograph by Dorothea Lange during the Drought of 1936
endangered species of the edwards aquifer
texas’ invasive species from hell
AQUATIC SPECIES
Over 40 species of highly adapted, aquatic, subterranean species are known to live in the Edwards Aquifer. These
include amphipod crustaceans, gastropod snails, and interesting vertebrates like blind catfish (Longley, 1986). Seven
aquatic species are listed as endangered in the Edwards Aquifer system, and one is listed as threatened. The main
problems for all the species are reduced springflows caused by increased pumping, elimination of habitat, and
degradation of water quality caused by urban expansion.
The World Wildlife Fund has produced a must-have, authoritative reference work for anyone interested in endangered
species. It describes 540 endangered or threatened species, including their habitat, behavior, and recovery. Excerpts
from their Guide to Endangered Species and other sources were used to prepare this section. Information on the
aquatic invertebrates was prepared using the US Fish and Wildlife’s published final rule on listing the species.
The seven endangered species of the Edwards Aquifer system are:
FOUNTAIN DARTER
TEXAS BLIND SALAMANDER
SAN MARCOS GAMBUSIA
ZEBRA MUSSEL
NUTRIA
GIANT SALVINIA
The poster child for invasive
species in Texas. Originally from
the Black and Caspian Seas, these
quick-breeding mollusks threaten
to take over the Trinity River
Basin. Zebra Mussels have caused
alarming declines in fish, birds, and
native mussels by over absorbing
phytoplankton, an essential food
source for many aquatic species.
Its high rate of filtration also leads
to increased sunlight penetration,
raising water temperatures and the
depth at which that light penetrates
the water.
Nutria is a large, semi-aquatic exotic
rodent that has created problems for
Texas coastal marsh and bald cypress
swamps. Populations have swelled
due to the collapse of the fur trade
industry. Nutria feed on planted
seedlings and saplings, and have
consequently denuded hundreds of
thousands of acres of marshlands
and floodplains along the Gulf Coast.
Giant salvinia, or the aptly named
salvinia molesta, is a rootless, aquatic
fern that thrives in freshwater sources
like streams, lakes, ponds, ditches,
and rice fields. It grows in chains and
floats on water surfaces like dense
mats. A small quarter-acre pond can
become completely covered with
giant salvinia in as little as six weeks
from the point of invasion. Giant
salvinia chains coalesce to form dense
mats that shade out native aquatic
species and reduce dissolved oxygen
levels in water.
ASIAN CARP
TEXAS WILD RICE COMAL SPRINGS RIFFLE & DRYOPID BEETLES
PECK’S CAVE AMPHIPOD
(Threatened species: San Marcos Salamander is not shown)
are you smarter than a 7th grader? answers
1.
D. The siege and the final assault on the Alamo in 1836 constitute the most celebrated military engagement in Texas history. The battle was
conspicuous for the large number of illustrious personalities among its combatants.
2.
D. The Battle of San Jacinto, fought on April 21, 1836, was the concluding military event of the Texas Revolution
3.
B. Unfortunately, Texas cannot claim General Patton as one of our own.
4.
B. Juan N. Seguín entered the Alamo with other Texan military and went on to organize a company that was the only Tejano unit to fight at
the Battle of San Jacinto
5.
D. All of the above
6.
B. Francita Alavez is recognized as a heroine of the Texas Revolution.
7.
B. Rio Grande- Forming the boundary of Texas and the international U.S.–Mexican border for 1,245 river miles
8.
D. The Battle of Gonzales marked a clear break between the American colonists and the Mexican government.
9.
D. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo wended the war with Mexico and added more than 500,000 square miles to the US’ land mass
BLACK TIGER SHRIMP
Black tiger shrimp, commonly
referred to as “giant tiger prawns”
on upscale restaurant menus, have
turned up in the Gulf Coast in recent
months. They are aggressive giant
shrimp that can reach up to a foot
in length and one pound in weight.
They feed on shrimp and crab, a fact
which has alarmed many biologists
who worry about native shrimp
depletion. They are also thought to
carry diseases that native shrimp
may not have the immune system to
fight.
Asian carp, like bighead and silver
carp, have the potential to cause
enormous damage to native species
because they feed mainly on
plankton, a vital source of nutrition
for larval fish and native mussels.
ASIAN CLAMS
Texas rivers are packed with Asian
clams, small, lightly-colored mollusks
that have become the bane of nuclear
power plant managers. As water
is drawn from rivers, streams and
reservoirs for cooling purposes, so are
Asian clams and the larvae they carry.
Once inside the plant, the mussel can
clog condenser tubes, service water
pipes, and other equipment.
HYDRILLA
Hydrilla comes in the form of dense
underwater strands that can grow
up to an inch per day. Strands can
reach a length of up to 30 feet until
they reach the water’s surface. It’s
responsible for raising pH levels
and water temperatures in lakes,
significantly altering aquatic flora
and fauna and greatly increasing
water loss through evaporation.
Saving water never looked so beautiful.
SAWS Water Conservation initiatives
Residential Outdoor Programs & Rebates www.saws.org/conservation/outdoor/
WaterSaver
Landscape Coupon
Irrigation Design Rebate
WaterSaver
Irrigation Consultation
7 Steps to Xeriscaping
Swimming Pool Filter Rebate
Rainwater Harvesting
Watering Efficiently
WaterSaver Lane at SA
Botanical Garden
WaterSaver Landscape Care
Guide
WaterSaver Plant List
WaterSaver Newsletter
Drought-Tolerant
Grass Varieties
saws approved plant list
www.saws.org/conservation/outdoor/plants/
Add amazing color, texture and even shade to your water-wise landscape. These low-water
plants are approved by SAWS for landscapes in the San Antonio area. To suggest additions to the
list, contact the SAWS Conservation Division.
Don’t let the drought get ugly
Let’s face it: South Texas is bone dry more often
than not. But that doesn’t mean you can’t have a
beautiful yard. Our Garden Style San Antonio
e-newsletter is filled with tips and tricks to get
the most color using less water. It’s like having a
personal garden consultant right in your email.
Annuals-Plants that
complete their life cycle
in one growing season.
Cacti and Succulents
- Plants that have
succulent stems and
branches with scales or
spines instead of leaves
Grasses, Turf - Plants that
have single or clustered
bladelike leaves and that
spread by seed or along
the ground
Groundcover - Plants
that spread along the
ground and generally
have woody stems
Herbs - Plants that have
aromatic stems, leaves
and seeds
Ornamental Grasses
- Grasses that grow
in bunches and have
decorative leaves and
flowers
Palms - Plants that have
non-woody stems, one
growing point, and
leaves that are either
fan or feather shaped.
Perennials - Plants that
live for several years,
or come back annually
usually with new
herbaceous growth.
Roses - Plants that have
woody, thorny stems
and decorative, aromatic
flowers
Shrubs - Large - Not
taller than 25 feet at
maturity
Shrubs - Medium - Not
taller than 10 feet at
maturity
Shrubs - Small - Not
taller than six feet at
maturity
Trees - Small: 10-25
feet; Medium: 25-40
feet; Large: 40 feet and
higher
Vines - Plants that generally
have an elongated woody
stem and produce decorative
flowers
mysaws
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