San Antonio Water finalises draft to bring water through $3.4bn pipeline

Officials from San Antonio Water System (SAWS) have presented a draft purchase contract to the city community for purchasing the non-Edwards water supply for the US city.

Under the plan, San Antonio Water plans to build a $3.4bn pipeline from western Burleson County to San Antonio, in order to supply up to 50,000 acre-feet of water to serve 175,000 homes.

Water will be pumped from the Carrizo and Simsboro Aquifers in Burleson County, helping San Antonio Water to reduce dependence on the Edwards Aquifer.

According to the contract, SAWS will receive reliable water supply for 30 years, starting from 2019.

Vista Ridge Pipeline project proposed by the Vista Ridge Consortium plans to improve water supply, which will be more than twelve times the amount of water in all Texas lakes combined.

SAWS chairman Berto Guerra said: "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."

SAWS president and CEO Robert R. Puente said: "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.

"We have a chance to purchase tomorrow’s needed water at today’s prices.

"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 new deal is said to offer numerous protections for SAWS ratepayers, maximise cost savings and minimise project risks.

By 2020, the average residential water bill is expected to increase to $88, out of which a maximum of $12 will be charged for the water supply from Vista Ridge Pipeline project.

The contract with Vista Ridge Consortium will initially go through a voting session under SAWS Board of Trustees, after which it will be passed on to Vista Ridge Consortium for approval.

In late October, the City Council will receive the final draft for consideration.

Once operational, the project is expected to supply water to the entire city, starting from Stone Oak in the north to Mission Pump Station in the south.

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Image: The project will help to reduce dependence on the Edwards Aquifer. Photo: courtesy of WisdomFromIntrospect / Wikipedia.