INSIDER
SAWS launches lead service line outreach after new EPA ruling, Biden deadline
Read full article: SAWS launches lead service line outreach after new EPA ruling, Biden deadlineThe San Antonio Water System (SAWS) will conduct free line service inspections to identify lead and galvanized water lines on the same day President Biden set a 10-year deadline for cities to replace the piping.
Decomposed body found floating face down inside water tank at SAWS treatment plant, police say
Read full article: Decomposed body found floating face down inside water tank at SAWS treatment plant, police sayThe body of a missing man was found floating inside a water tank on San Antonio Water System’s treatment plant property, according to police.
‘We’re that anybody’: San Antonio family calls for help to make water connections more accessible
Read full article: ‘We’re that anybody’: San Antonio family calls for help to make water connections more accessibleA Council Consideration Request filed this year could create a pilot program to connect more people to SAWS water and sewer main lines.
Northwest Side sewer spill prompts SAWS, TCEQ notices
Read full article: Northwest Side sewer spill prompts SAWS, TCEQ noticesA damaged sewer main prompted the spill, which dumped an estimated 50,000 gallons of domestic wastewater, potentially affecting the nearby Zarzamora Creek, according to a notice from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).
City council members look to curb SAWS’ shut-off practices at properties with delinquent accounts
Read full article: City council members look to curb SAWS’ shut-off practices at properties with delinquent accountsOver the last two months, SAWS has either shut off or threatened to shut off water services at some local apartment complexes.
Broken water line leads to flood of problems on city’s SE side
Read full article: Broken water line leads to flood of problems on city’s SE sidePeople complained of water outages, low water pressure, and traffic problems after an underground water main on SE Military broke. It also caused part of a sidewalk to crumble.
South Texas’ ongoing, long-term drought is drying up springs, lakes, and rivers. Here are the numbers.
Read full article: South Texas’ ongoing, long-term drought is drying up springs, lakes, and rivers. Here are the numbers.Records low water levels continue to plague area lakes and rivers, while springs are drying up. Where do we stand? And what does it mean for you?
San Antonio City Council passes new SAWS drought rules; includes higher fines, extra charge for heavy users
Read full article: San Antonio City Council passes new SAWS drought rules; includes higher fines, extra charge for heavy usersHigher fines and a new surcharge for heavy water users are among the new proposed drought rules up for a vote before the San Antonio City Council on Thursday.
SAWS shuts off water to multiple apartment complexes for unpaid bills
Read full article: SAWS shuts off water to multiple apartment complexes for unpaid billsHundreds of people woke up to water outages Tuesday morning. The San Antonio Water System says it was because the owners of their apartment complexes have failed to pay their water bills.
SAWS says new heavy use surcharge could help fend off reduced watering
Read full article: SAWS says new heavy use surcharge could help fend off reduced wateringSan Antonio Water System officials are hoping the city council approves new drought rules, which the city-owned utility says could help stave off harsher conservation measures.
‘We don’t have that’: South Bexar County residents face hefty bill to buy water meters even after $400K project
Read full article: ‘We don’t have that’: South Bexar County residents face hefty bill to buy water meters even after $400K projectMultiple homes along Dixie Lee in South Bexar County are not connected to the public water supply. Residents said they now have to spend thousands to gain access to the public water supply.
Higher fines, new heavy user ‘surcharge’; SAWS board passes new drought rules
Read full article: Higher fines, new heavy user ‘surcharge’; SAWS board passes new drought rulesSan Antonio Water System trustees approved big changes to rules for how customers can water their lawns and how they’re punished for heavy water use during drought periods.
SAWS considers raising penalties for violating drought restrictions
Read full article: SAWS considers raising penalties for violating drought restrictionsThe San Antonio Water System is considering big changes to its rules for how its customers can water their lawns and how they’re punished for heavy water use during drought periods.
UPDATE: Ramp at Interstate 35, Loop 410 interchange on Northeast Side reopens after water main break
Read full article: UPDATE: Ramp at Interstate 35, Loop 410 interchange on Northeast Side reopens after water main breakA ramp to the main lanes of Interstate 35 at the Loop 410 interchange has reopened following a water main break.
SAWS investigating problems with low water pressure that hampered firefighters
Read full article: SAWS investigating problems with low water pressure that hampered firefightersFire crews say they had to rely on water already on their trucks when they were battling a raging house fire Monday morning. They say the water pressure of the nearby fire hydrants was too low for them to use.
SAWS citations quadruple after water company increases drought patrols
Read full article: SAWS citations quadruple after water company increases drought patrolsSan Antonio has been under stage 2 watering restrictions since April of 2022 but the number of citations issued to customers found to be in violation of the watering rules has quadrupled in recent months.
Live Oak neighborhood frustrated after ruptured water pipe remains unrepaired for fifth day
Read full article: Live Oak neighborhood frustrated after ruptured water pipe remains unrepaired for fifth dayA neighborhood in Live Oak has been grappling with a major water crisis as a busted water pipe remains unfixed for the fifth consecutive day.
San Antonio resident questions high SAWS bill at empty house
Read full article: San Antonio resident questions high SAWS bill at empty houseA San Antonio Water System customer is trying to understand why his water bill is hoovering around $400 when there's no one living in the house. He says he's tired of the water company blaming everything on a water leak on the customers side.
SAWS blames water main breaks on customers ignoring watering rules, record pumping and heat
Read full article: SAWS blames water main breaks on customers ignoring watering rules, record pumping and heatSan Antonio Water System officials are attributing the hundreds of water main breaks the utility has seen this summer to record pumping amid high demand for water.
Water main break leaves bus with students stuck in collapsed trench
Read full article: Water main break leaves bus with students stuck in collapsed trenchA water main break on the county’s Northeast Side left a bus with students aboard stuck in a collapsed trench Monday afternoon, according to officials.
Why did low water pressure plague firefighters in Northwest Side apartment fire?
Read full article: Why did low water pressure plague firefighters in Northwest Side apartment fire?The San Antonio Fire Department said weak water pressure from nearby fire hydrants complicated firefighting efforts at the Frederick Apartments Sunday night.
9 northwest Bexar County businesses lose water service after non-SAWS contractor breaks water main
Read full article: 9 northwest Bexar County businesses lose water service after non-SAWS contractor breaks water mainSan Antonio Water System crews are working to restore water service to several businesses that lost it after a local contractor’s work went awry, according to SAWS officials.
SAWS considering idea to change enforcement of water rule violations
Read full article: SAWS considering idea to change enforcement of water rule violationsAs San Antonio reels from the heat and lack of rainfall, SAWS is considering new ideas around drought management and the violation of watering rules.
Access road on I-10 WB expected to open on Friday following water main break
Read full article: Access road on I-10 WB expected to open on Friday following water main breakThe frontage road along Interstate 10 westbound near Medical Drive is expected to open on Friday after a water main break closed the street for multiple days.
Road caves in, creating large sinkhole in middle of busy West Side street
Read full article: Road caves in, creating large sinkhole in middle of busy West Side streetA portion of a busy street on the city’s West Side caved in late Monday morning, creating a large sinkhole that caused a two-vehicle crash.
SAWS customers share concerns over Uplift Assistance fee appearing on water bills
Read full article: SAWS customers share concerns over Uplift Assistance fee appearing on water billsMany SAWS customers have been sharing their concerns and questions about a fee that appeared on their water bills last month.
SAWS to finally replace thousands of feet of pipe after 6 leaks in front of same Castle Hills home
Read full article: SAWS to finally replace thousands of feet of pipe after 6 leaks in front of same Castle Hills homeThe San Antonio Water System will replace pipe along the entire stretch of a Castle Hills street after six leaks in front of the same woman’s home since 2020.
SAWS denies damage claim after same pipe repeatedly bursts in front of Castle Hills home
Read full article: SAWS denies damage claim after same pipe repeatedly bursts in front of Castle Hills homeSan Antonio Water System officials have denied a damage claim filed by a Castle Hills homeowner, despite the same water pipe bursting over and over again in the woman’s front yard.
New East Side road, sidewalks, curbs torn up after miscommunication between Public Works, SAWS
Read full article: New East Side road, sidewalks, curbs torn up after miscommunication between Public Works, SAWSThe Public Works Department and San Antonio Water System have given conflicting timelines on why a $972,000 road repair project in an east San Antonio neighborhood was interrupted earlier this year to make way for the installation of a new water main.
How to protect your pipes during the freeze in San Antonio
Read full article: How to protect your pipes during the freeze in San AntonioWith freezing temperatures nearing, the San Antonio Water System is urging customers to prepare their homes now. Your KSAT Weather Authority is expecting arctic cold air to make its way into San Antonio on Thursday afternoon.
SAWS bills could drop for most homeowners, while rising for businesses and apartment complexes
Read full article: SAWS bills could drop for most homeowners, while rising for businesses and apartment complexesFour of five residential San Antonio Water System customers could see their monthly bills drop under a new, proposed rate structure, though it would also mean higher bills for nearly all business and apartment complexes.
SAWS, CPS Energy team up for pumping station backup power plan
Read full article: SAWS, CPS Energy team up for pumping station backup power planA year-and-a-half after faucets around Bexar County ran dry during the 2021 February Freeze, the San Antonio Water System has a $202 million plan to keep the water flowing should it happen again, and the utility is teaming up with CPS Energy for part of it.
SAWS forced to leave low-priority water main breaks spilling water for weeks at a time
Read full article: SAWS forced to leave low-priority water main breaks spilling water for weeks at a timeThe San Antonio Water System is dealing with a record-breaking year of water main breaks. The unprecedented year has wait times for repairs taking longer than what customers would like.
H-E-B, West Side computer technology plant top list of SAWS commercial water users
Read full article: H-E-B, West Side computer technology plant top list of SAWS commercial water usersThe massive North East side campus, which includes eight manufacturing facilities, topped the list of commercial users of water during the 12-month period by a wide margin.
The top 10 commercial San Antonio water users
Read full article: The top 10 commercial San Antonio water usersThe Business Journal obtained records from SAWS that show information about the highest users of potable water, providing insight into how much water these massive businesses and institutions use.
Lightning strike causes oil tank fire near SAWS facility on South Side
Read full article: Lightning strike causes oil tank fire near SAWS facility on South SideA lightning strike caused a grass fire that spread to an oil tank at a site near a SAWS facility Monday night on the South Side, according to officials.
‘We’re past the point of issuing warnings’: SAWS to issue citations with fines to customers not following Stage 2 rules
Read full article: ‘We’re past the point of issuing warnings’: SAWS to issue citations with fines to customers not following Stage 2 rulesWith no foreseeable outdoor watering changes in sight, San Antonio Water System is reminding customers that Stage 2 watering rules still apply.
San Antonio, how are increased electricity bills affecting your life? Take our 5-question survey
Read full article: San Antonio, how are increased electricity bills affecting your life? Take our 5-question surveyThis summer, Texans have been hit hard with not only record-breaking heat, but also with the struggles of inflation.
Northeast Side residents voice frustration with water main break in neighborhood
Read full article: Northeast Side residents voice frustration with water main break in neighborhoodResidents in a Northeast Side neighborhood tell KSAT they were frustrated with a water main break they said took some time to fix.
Heat, drought lead to more waterline breaks this summer, SAWS says
Read full article: Heat, drought lead to more waterline breaks this summer, SAWS saysSan Antonio SAWS customers are experiencing more waterline breaks with the high temperatures and historic drought, and crews are taking longer to get their service back up.
City of San Antonio, CPS Energy, SAWS, VIA shared coordinated heat preparedness information
Read full article: City of San Antonio, CPS Energy, SAWS, VIA shared coordinated heat preparedness informationOfficials with the City of San Antonio, CPS Energy, SAWS and VIA held a briefing Monday about coordinated efforts to keep people safe in the extreme heat.
Stage 3 restrictions now in place for Edwards Aquifer permit holders, but not SAWS customers
Read full article: Stage 3 restrictions now in place for Edwards Aquifer permit holders, but not SAWS customersThe aquifer drops below 640' for the first time in more than 7 years. Stage 3 restrictions are ahead for permit holders.
Blocked sewer line leads to sewer spill on far Northwest Side, SAWS says
Read full article: Blocked sewer line leads to sewer spill on far Northwest Side, SAWS saysA blocked sewer line has caused a sewer spill on the city’s far Northwest Side. Now, San Antonio Water System crews are working to clean up the site.
Stage 1 water restrictions to go into effect Thursday for SAWS customers
Read full article: Stage 1 water restrictions to go into effect Thursday for SAWS customersThe 10-day rolling average of the level of the Edwards Aquifer, measured at the J-17 well, has dropped below 660 feet as of Wednesday morning. Utilities that utilize the aquifer use the criteria to trigger restrictions on water use. Stage 1 restrictions will go into effect on Thursday for SAWS customers. Coming out of drought stages can be considered 15 days after the aquifer is above the trigger.
SAWS: Routine testing prevents E. coli bacteria from entering drinking system on North Side
Read full article: SAWS: Routine testing prevents E. coli bacteria from entering drinking system on North SideA raw, untreated water sample from a well on San Antonio's Northside during standard water quality sampling indicated the presence of E. coli bacteria, according to San Antonio Water System.
SAWS to install electronic meters for 600,000 customers to reduce water use, detect leaks
Read full article: SAWS to install electronic meters for 600,000 customers to reduce water use, detect leaksThe San Antonio Water System will install new electronic meters for customers over the next few years in order to help them better understand and control their water use, the utility said.
CPS Energy aims for 15-minute rolling blackouts in case of more grid trouble this winter
Read full article: CPS Energy aims for 15-minute rolling blackouts in case of more grid trouble this winterAs San Antonio’s city-owned utilities prepare for another winter, they’ve been taking steps to ensure the city isn’t left as vulnerable as it was during the February freeze.
First water wells to supply drinking water in San Antonio getting repairs
Read full article: First water wells to supply drinking water in San Antonio getting repairsThe artisan wells that are 130 years old are actually still used to supply downtown San Antonio with drinking water and the historical water wells are in need of repairs.
SAWS to end water restrictions for San Antonio on Tuesday
Read full article: SAWS to end water restrictions for San Antonio on TuesdayAfter a stretch of above-average rainfall and with the arrival of cooler temperatures, SAWS President/CEO Robert R. Puente and San Antonio City Manager Erik Walsh have declared an end to Stage 1 water rules effective Tuesday.
City of San Antonio considers giving $30 million to thousands of CPS Energy, SAWS customers behind on their bills
Read full article: City of San Antonio considers giving $30 million to thousands of CPS Energy, SAWS customers behind on their billsThe City of San Antonio is considering using a $30 million chunk of the federal money it received from the American Rescue Plan Act to help pay off or pay down the overdue utility bills of struggling San Antonio residents.
Council members fret about process for SAWS and CPS board appointees, but not enough to derail new trustees
Read full article: Council members fret about process for SAWS and CPS board appointees, but not enough to derail new trusteesCouncil members’ concerns over the process for appointing trustees to the city’s water and utilities spurred lengthy discussions Thursday, but ultimately weren’t enough to derail the newest SAWS and CPS Energy board appointments.
CPS Energy, SAWS shut-offs are restarting after pandemic pause. Here’s what you need to know.
Read full article: CPS Energy, SAWS shut-offs are restarting after pandemic pause. Here’s what you need to know.The city’s water and power utilities both put a hold on service disconnections in March 2020 because of the pandemic. Since then, the number of customers behind on their payments has swelled. Now they’re at risk unless they can start making good on their past-due accounts.
SAWS will begin shutting water services off in San Antonio for past due bills in October
Read full article: SAWS will begin shutting water services off in San Antonio for past due bills in OctoberThe moratorium on shutting off water due to lack of payment is coming to an end in San Antonio in just a few months.
Report on February freeze spurs heated council comments
Read full article: Report on February freeze spurs heated council commentsThe Committee on Emergency Preparedness presented its analysis of what went wrong during the extended freezing temperatures and how the city and its utilities could prepare better next time.
Committee reviewing winter freeze response expects to finish by June 15
Read full article: Committee reviewing winter freeze response expects to finish by June 15Former District 8 Councilman Reed Williams told city council he expects the Committee on Emergency Preparedness to wrap up its work with a report by June 15. Mayor Ron Nirenberg established the committee to examine what went wrong during February's winter freeze, which left many without power or water.
SAWS: Sewer spill cleanup underway on West Side following Saturday’s heavy rainfall
Read full article: SAWS: Sewer spill cleanup underway on West Side following Saturday’s heavy rainfallA sewer spill cleanup is underway on the West Side following Saturday’s heavy rainfall, according to the San Antonio Water System.