SAWS: Worst water restrictions ever possible by May

Stage 2 restrictions are in place now, but this is what would change under Stage 3: Stage 2 restrictions are in place now, but this is what would change under Stage 3: Photo: Mike Fisher Photo: Mike Fisher Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close SAWS: Worst water restrictions ever possible by May 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

As early as May, the San Antonio Water System could go to Stage 3 outdoor water restrictions, the first time ever, as a result of the region's longest continuous drought in decades.

Watering would be allowed only once every other week under Stage 3, instead of once a week as it is now in Stage 2.

And if weather projections for the next several months are accurate, restrictions will only get worse.

The region is now in the third consecutive year of drought — a level of parchedness that has only happened two other times since the 1950s. The last three-year drought was in the 1980s.

Stage 2 restrictions started almost a year ago, and the area teetered on the edge of Stage 3 last year, but somewhat increased rainfall in the later third of the year helped to avert it.

It is possible that a change in weather could save the day again, but the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has predicted “a generally dry pattern” through June, SAWS officials have noted.

“We've started this year at much lower levels than we have in the past,” said SAWS spokeswoman Anne Hayden said Monday.

The SAWS warning about tighter watering limit came on the same day that the Edwards Aquifer Authority, which manages the use of the aquifer, declared its own Stage II, telling users of the San Antonio Pool — SAWS being the largest — to cut pumping by 30 percent.

The EAA's Stage II is triggered when the pool monitoring well's 10-day average falls to 650 feet above sea level. The aquifer's Uvalde Pool has already dropped to Stage IV.

“How they pass it on to customers, it's up to them,” said EAA spokeswoman Terri Herbold, explaining that overpumping fines can reach three to four times the normal price for water that exceeds the limits. “It's not cheap because there's no way to rectify it. You can't get the water back once you pump it out.”

More Information Outdoor watering only every other week Outdoor watering only every other week Drip irrigation only on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays Other than for sanitary reasons, hotels and motels to limit linen changes Athletic fields, golf courses and parks must reduce watering according to city ordinance

SAWS has projected that as the drought worsens, the EAA will reduce pumping further, leading to a pumping cut of 37 percent this year.

While it's not a reason to panic, SAWS customers should perhaps begin rethinking how they maintain their lawns and plants, SAWS officials said.

The aquifer “won't run out,” SAWS conservation director Karen Guz said, “but we're not going to be able to use as much of it.”

“Stage 3 and 4 (restrictions) represent a sustainable plan to get through the drought period no matter how long how long it lasts. It's a plan based on the water we have.”

After 30 days of Stage 3, the San Antonio city manager could then consider implementing Stage 4, which adds “drought surcharges” for water use above 12,900 gallons per month. That amount is currently exceeded by about 30 percent of SAWS customers, most with lawn irrigation systems, officials said.

Lawn irrigation systems use about 2,000 to 5,000 gallons at a time, and they're not particularly efficient, Guz said, summing them up as “how you use a lot of water really fast.”

The first step for conserving is to determine what part of the lawn has been the most difficult to maintain during previous summers, she said. Perhaps replace the areas that get the most sun with mulch and evergreen shrubs or river rocks, she suggested.

The utility offers workshops and a consulting hotline. Information on both are available at www.saws.org.

“It's not saying 'no grass,'” Guz said. “It's saying think about where you have the grass.”

SAWS officials remained confident Monday that their already-in-place plans, paired with residents' lawn care cooperation, will make the restrictions less Draconian than other drought-slammed cities have had to endure in the past.

In recent years, as similar conservation requests have been issued to customers, SAWS has seen the aquifer rise on weekends when residents turned off their sprinkler systems.

“It really does matter what we do,” Guz said.

ckapitan@express-news.net