San Antonio Water System officials appear to have had it with residents who won’t comply with Stage 2 water restrictions.
Earlier this month, Karen Guz, SAWS vice president of water conservation, told the Express-News that the city-owned utility was looking to get tougher on rule-breakers and water wasters so that it can better moderate demand during times of drought.
She presented SAWS’ trustees a proposal to address the issues, which included making drought restrictions apply to all SAWS users; changing the fee structure for violations; charging the highest users more under Stage 3, and changing the triggers for that stage; and clarifying irrigation system regulations to require a SAWS check on those systems.
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Meanwhile, the situation with rule-breakers apparently has escalated.
Last week, Guz told Texas Public Radio’s “The Source” that SAWS is ready to cut service for customers it deems to be chronic offenders who refuse to moderate their water usage under the emergency restrictions — a first for SAWS.
“There are a couple properties out there that we’ve given them a citation, we’ve communicated with them, and we’re not seeing a change,” Guz told “The Source.” “We’re preparing to let them know that another tool we have in ordinance is discontinuing service.”
Guz said that abusers do not represent “a huge number of properties.”
There’s a quick fix, she said: If customers sign a document and promise to follow the guidelines, they can keep their water service. If they violate the restrictions again, they could lose their water for at least two weeks.
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According to information on the SAWS website, Stage 2 drought restrictions begin when the 10-day rolling average of the Edwards Aquifer level reaches 650 feet mean sea level at its monitoring well.
On Sunday, the Edwards Aquifer level was 629 feet.
Customers are reminded that under Stage 2, watering with an irrigation system or sprinkler is only allowed once a week from 7 to 11 a.m. and 7 to 11 p.m. The designated watering day is determined by the last number of the resident’s street address.
The restrictions permit watering with a hand-held hose anytime on any day.
Read More: SAWS has had it; tells customers follow restrictions or lose water