City of San Antonio Water Policy Study John M. Dugan, AICP, Director Department of Planning & Community Development 1 Plan Element Working Group Summit December 4, 2015

Scope & Purpose of Water Policy Study Prepared by Texas A&M Institute of Renewable Natural Resources (IRNR) Analyzed policies, procedures and regulations to ensure water security through 2060 Integrated SA Tomorrow comprehensive effort Informed Cities of San Antonio and Fair Oaks Ranch 2

Science Panel Review Provided an independent assessment of the report Assigned reliability ratings on water supply projects 12 Water supply sources Assigned grades on water management and planning performance ranging from A to F 24 Water Policy issues 3

Reliability Factors for Water Projects  Total amount of water  Cost of Water  Water Ownership  Length of contract  Distance to Source  Endangered species  Water Treatment required  Contamination Threat  Sensitivity to drought  Regulatory Authority 4

Ratings for Water Supply Reliability Water ProjectsRating Water ConservationHigh SAWS Recycled WaterHigh Local Carrizo (Bexar County)High Brackish Water DesalinationHigh SAWS Twin Oaks ASRMedium Vista Ridge Water ProjectMedium Gonzales CarrizoMedium Edwards Aquifer GroundwaterMedium Trinity Oliver Ranch WaterLow Medina LakeLow CRWA Lake Dunlap/Wells RanchLow Western CanyonLow 5

Water Projects Findings and Recommendations  Brackish Groundwater will reduce reliance on Edwards Aquifer and San Antonio should pursue legislation  Vista Ridge project is a major contributor for long-term water supply  Review long term pros and cons of water sources 6

Grades for Water Policy (Planning & Management) Issues A A Accomplishes goals – exemplary, leading example B BAccomplishes goals – effective but lacking in an area C C Meets goals - not exemplary or effective D D Does not meet goals - inadequate effort to correct F F Failure to meet goals - not much effort to correct n/a n/a History or information not available to grade 7

Water Planning Issues  Public Input – A  Population Estimates –B  Gallons Per Capita Per Day (GPCD) Demand Management – C  Water Shortage – C  Climate Change – n/a 8

Water Planning Recommendations  Revise population estimates to reduce potential future water shortages  Identify key climate change strategies  Set goal of less than 135 GPCD (gallons/capita/ day) 9

Water Management  Drought Management – A  Edwards Aquifer Habitat Conservation Plan – A  Bexar Metropolitan Integration – A  Lost/Non-revenue water – B  City of San Antonio as water neighbor – B  Contamination threat - B 10

Water Management Recommendations  Recommend drought management strategies targeting reduced landscape water use  Direct actions to recapture portions of lost/non- revenue water that makes most economic sense  Continue leadership in Edwards Aquifer Habitat Conservation Plan 11

Water Quality  Edwards Aquifer Protection easements – A  Coal-Tar Sealant – B  Development Regulations over Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone (EARZ)/Contributing Zone – C  Low-Impact Development (LID) – C  Annexation and extension of water infrastructure – C 12

Water Quality Recommendations  Continue diversification efforts to reduce dependence on Edwards Aquifer  Consider improvements to EARZ rules  Extend EARZ rules to contributing zone  Review coal tar sealant threats  Expand conservation easement program 13

Regulatory Agencies  TX Water Development Board– B  Edwards Aquifer Authority – B  Local Regulatory Agencies (Groundwater Dists.) – C Recommendations  Organize a Contaminants of Emerging Concern effort that follows EPA guidelines 14

Water Costs  Water Project Costs – B  Residential Water Rate Structures – B  Commercial/Industrial Water Rate Structures – B  Impact Fees – B Recommendations  Supports rate increases and steeper block rates for 2015 to provide incentives for more conservation  Consider economic development goals when developing commercial rate structures 15

Water Policy Issues Summary 16

Water Policy Issues Summary Cont. 17

Water Policy Issues Summary Cont. 18

19 Report and other documents available at:

New SAWS Water Rates and Structure  7.5% system-wide increase for 2016 and 7.9% for 2017  Rate Plan for 2017 to