SAWS warns six-year drought, outlines supply portfolio and leak-reduction push

San Antonio Water System officials briefed the Municipal Utilities Committee May 20 on the city’s prolonged drought, supply diversification projects and a stepped-up program to find and fix leaks across the system.

The briefing, led by Steven Siebert of SAWS’ water resources team and Karen Guz, SAWS vice president of conservation, placed Bexar County in the U.S. Drought Monitor’s most severe category and described supply projects, conservation targets and expanded leak-detection efforts to protect drinking water and meet demand through 2075.

SAWS data presented at the meeting show the city is in its sixth year of drought and that May — historically the wettest month with more than 4 inches of rain on average — had only received 0.19 inches before a recent 2.5-inch rain at the airport. That event raised the month to roughly 65% of normal. Since 2020 SAWS says the region has a rainfall deficit of about 55 inches. The utility’s J‑17 Edwards Aquifer monitoring well has tracked close to the 1950s drought of record; SAWS reported the Edwards Aquifer Authority moved permit holders from a stage 4 curtailment (about 40% reduction) to stage 5 (about 44% reduction), and SAWS forecasts roughly a 40% critical period reduction off its permits — equivalent to more than…