San Antonio, TX
San Antonio overlies four major aquifers, chief amongst these the massive Edwards Aquifer, which provides nearly half of the City’s water supply.
Regulatory restrictions on pumping from the Aquifer prompted the local water utility, San Antonio Water System (SAWS), to adopt innovative practices and leverage conservation as a source of water throughout the community.
As of December 2024, SAWS has:
3.2M
Saved 3.2 million acre-feet cumulatively
200000
Avoided the need for 200,000 acre-feet of new supply
50%
Reduced GPCD by 50%
7
Protected 7 endangered species
SAWS’ conservation investments have secured more water than any other SAWS water supply investment over the past 30 years.
In response to drought and supply constraints, SAWS takes a “conservation first” approach and treats conservation as a source of water supply.
Three primary strategies drive SAWS’ conservation program:
Within each of these categories, SAWS uses a diverse set of tools to reduce water use among residential and commercial, industrial, and institutional customers.
SAWS’ program continually evolves and as of 2026 includes:
SAWS has seen particular success in growing cost-effective partnerships with a thriving set of local educational organizations and programs focused on conservation. These groups offer personalized consultations and lead a variety of tours and hands-on workshops that educate community members on conservation tactics like rainwater harvesting, wildscaping, and other forms of drought-tolerant landscaping.
As SAWS continues to diversify its water supply through water conservation and development of non-Edwards supplies, the utility becomes more resilient against drought and climate change.
SAWS plans to achieve a GPCD of 87 by 2075.
Reduced reliance on the Edwards Aquifer has also helped protect 7 local endangered species, including the Fountain Darter and Texas Blind Salamander. SAWS’ programs have also created wildlife habitat for monarch butterflies and other critical pollinator species by encouraging the use of native plants through water-smart landscaping initiatives.
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National
Distributed Infrastructure
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Distributed Infrastructure
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National
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