The San Antonio Water System Conservation Program.

The San Antonio Water System (SAWS) became a reality in 1992 as a single utility responsible for water, wastewater, storm water, and reuse. The agency was created through the consolidation of three predecessor agencies, with the ultimate goal to provide consistent, clean water for its customers, the citizens of the San Antonio metropolitan region. Equally important is to promote water as a reliable resource for job creation, economic investment, and an improved quality of life for customers and neighbors throughout the region. The San Antonio Water System created a 50-year conservation and water supply strategy that meets regional needs and ensures sufficient supplies are available during normal conditions and critical drought periods. The agency is genuinely committed to developing partnerships based on mutual respect and trust. Its reputation as a valued partner is derived from the willingness to listen and to identify opportunities that build on the strengths of others. Therefore, SAWS is recognized by their peers as a national model for large water systems and has been recently recognized by the Harvard Business School for its innovative conservation programs. San Antonio drought restrictions, established by city ordinance, limit water use based on specific levels of the Edwards Aquifer. Texas A&M Soil and Crop Science faculty have cooperated with SAWS, on projects in San Antonio, involving wastewater reuse on turfgrass and turfgrass drought tolerance as a water conservation strategy.