Residents near Trinity Aquifer warn of pollution, ecological impact amid proposed wastewater plant
Residents and organizations in the Grey Forest area are expressing concerns over the potential pollution risks associated with approving a wastewater permit by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
Hill Country conference brings communities together for sustainable water solutions
The conference was organized in partnership between the City of Boerne, the Cibolo Center for Conservation and the Hill Country Alliance, a non-profit that aims to protect the Hill Countryโs unique resources and heritage.
San Antonio River Authority endorses Prop. 6, aimed at strengthening Texasโ water infrastructure
The San Antonio River Authorityโs (SARA) Board of Directors adopted a resolution endorsing Proposition 6, which would โ if approved by voters in November โ create more investments in Texasโ water infrastructure and finance water projects.
San Antonio resident questions high SAWS bill at empty house
A San Antonio Water System customer is trying to understand why his water bill is hoovering around $400 when there's no one living in the house. He says he's tired of the water company blaming everything on a water leak on the customers side.
Texasโ environmental agency enables companies to increase oilfield wastewater disposal in rivers
Researchers are still studying the chemical makeup of โproduced waterโ from Permian Basin oil fields. But regulators say theyโre ready to issue permits to discharge the water into rivers and creeks.
Fukushima residents worry nuclear plant's wastewater release in a few weeks will be another setback
Within weeks, the tsunami-hit Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant is expected to start releasing treated radioactive wastewater into the sea, a highly contested plan facing fierce protests in and outside Japan.
Water-saving and energy-efficient products will be sales-tax free last weekend in May
If you need a new dishwasher, plants to spruce up the yard, or just want to stock up on light bulbs, Memorial Day weekend may be the time to shop. Texans pay no sales tax on qualifying energy-saving and water-saving appliances and products.
UN chief urges 'game-changing' commitments on clean water
The United Nations chief is urging the first world conference on water in more than 45 years to address the โ21st century emergencyโ that is wasting the worldโs most important resource and has left billions of people without clean water and basic sanitation.
Hydration may be linked to longer, disease-free life, a new study finds
Many know drinking water is vital for health, but a new study by the National Institutes of Health in the journal eBioMedicine has discovered that hydration can potentially be a preventive approach to prolong a disease-free lifespan.
Neighbor steps in to help residents as water wells around Medina Lake dry up
Cahill, said he charges about $125 to $150 per trip for people in the lake area, and more for others farther away, but he tries to keep the charges low. The โslim profitโ he makes goes toward paying off the new, deeper well he had to have dug for more than $28,000.
Spring Branch residents concerned about wastewater amid new development proposal
Dozens of Spring Branch residents attended a meeting hosted by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) after bringing up concerns about the release of treated wastewater into a creek that feeds into Canyon Lake and the possible development of more than 700 homes.
These photos tell you everything you need to know about Californiaโs drought
Just this week, a major Southern California water agency declared a water supply alert for the first time in seven years, and is asking residents to voluntarily conserve. Many of the stateโs counties are already under a state of drought emergency.
What exactly was Mark Zuckerberg riding in that viral Fourth of July video?
If youโve been scrolling around on social media this month, then you may have noticed that over the Fourth of July weekend, Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg was riding on some sort of wakeboard on a lake with an American flag in tow.
Need a dishwasher, light bulbs, toilet? Theyโre sales tax-free this weekend
If you need a new dishwasher, plants to spruce up the yard, or just want to stock up on light bulbs, Memorial Day weekend may be the time to shop. Texans pay no sales tax on qualifying energy-saving and water-sipping appliances and products.
Some frustrated San Antonio-area residents still lack water at their apartment complexes
SAN ANTONIO โ Water issues continue to frustrate residents who live in apartment complexes that sustained damage to their pipes and water system during last weekโs winter storms. She says her water service lacks pressure, and the restrooms donโt work correctly. Garza captured video of furniture and personal materials dumped out because of the water damage leaks caused in the apartment buildings. Residents who have problems reaching the management at their apartment complex should contact the Neighborhood Housing Services Department 210-207-6459. The City of Schertz, where the Rim Stonecrest apartments are located, says it has been in touch with the complex management about the water issues.
Expert says boiling water to drink may not be enough to stay safe
But experts say boiling the water may not be enough to stay safe. Low water pressure and water main breaks can cause contaminants and backflow from wastewater treatment plants to seep into water sources. โMostly what we end up seeing are diarrhea illnesses from drinking contaminated water, brushing your teeth with contaminated water or swallowing water when youโre in the shower,โ Barton said. Barton says that after drinking contaminated water, youโll likely be spending a lot of time in the bathroom. AdIf you do become sick after drinking water, the most important thing to do is to rehydrate yourself with bottled or boiled water.
Spring Branch residents are flushing toilets with river, pool water after 9 days without water
SPRING BRANCH, Texas โ Without any water for nine days, people who live in a Spring Branch gated subdivision say theyโre getting desperate. โIf we want to wash dishes, if we want to boil water for anything, this (pool water) is the water,โ said Christy Ewings, who also lives in the subdivision. โYou know, you (Canyon Lake Water Service Company) bills me every month. Canyon Lake Water Service Company provided the following update for area residents:We continue to make progress on water restoration throughout our service area. Read also:SAWS answers frequently asked questions about boil water notice, low water pressureHere are the boil water notices in the San Antonio areaThese boil water notices have been lifted in the San Antonio area
Before noon, other huge sections of San Antonio will be out of the boil water notice, SAWS CEO says
SAN ANTONIO โ As of Sunday morning, families in the San Antonio area were still dealing with the aftermath of the winter storm and water issues. Robert Puente, president and CEO of the San Antonio Water System, joined Leading SA on Sunday to discuss the latest on water service restoration. AdThere are still boil water notices in place for a majority of the San Antonio area. But the low pressure required under strict guidelines, state guidelines, that you had had to issue a boil water notice. To see SAWSโ boil notice map, click here.
SAWS: Most areas in San Antonio have water restored
SAN ANTONIO โ Most areas in the city of San Antonio have had their water restored, according to the San Antonio Water System. SAWS announced Sunday morning that 98% of households have had their water restored, but a few areas still remain without water in the far North and Northwest Sides of town. As of 3:20 p.m. on Sunday, residents in the castle hills are have had their water service restored. Although water may be restored in most areas of the city, there are still plenty of areas that still fall under the active boil water notice that SAWS enacted last week. RELATED: Parts of San Antonio released from boil water notice, SAWS announcesCustomers that are still under the boil notice may not have a lack of water, but have a lack of pressure.
San Antonio breweries giving back to community amid water-boil advisories
SAN ANTONIO โ If this wild week hasnโt already driven you to your local brewery, maybe now is a convenient time to go. Some San Antonio breweries have temporarily stopped making beer to provide residents some quality filtered water, given the shortage caused by the wintry weather this past week. The San Antonio Water System first issued the boil water notice for the city on Wednesday, Feb. 17. Blue Star Brewery decided amid water shortages the right thing to do was to give back to the community. RELATED: Several San Antonio breweries offering free, clean water
SAWS answers frequently asked questions about boil water notice, low water pressure
Why is this being called a โvoluntaryโ boil recommendation and not a Boil Water Notice? Suggestions for different types of water use:Preparing and cooking foodWash all fruits and vegetables with boiled water that has cooled or with bottled water. Use boiled water when preparing drinks, such as coffee, tea, and lemonadeWash food preparation surfaces with boiled water. If I have low water pressure or no water, should I turn the water off at the meter to avoid problems when the water pressure is restored? When the water is restored, it will be pushed out at your normal water pressure rate.
Here are the boil water notices in the San Antonio area
A Boil Water Notice means residents should boil their water prior to consumption (e.g., washing hands/face, brushing teeth, drinking, etc). 1, located in Bandera, PWS#0100011Bexar CountySAWS has rescinded its boil water notice for all of San Antonio. **NO LONGER IN EFFECT** Monarch Utilities has issued a โBoil Water Noticeโ for customers in the Coolcrest water system , Public Water System ID No. Gillespie County**NO LONGER IN EFFECT** Monarch Utilities has issued a โBoil Water Noticeโ for customers in the Oakview water system, Public Water System ID No. **NO LONGER IN EFFECT** Monarch Utilities has issued a โBoil Water Noticeโ for customers in the Rocky Creek Subdivision water system, Public Water System ID No.
SAWS customers urged to boil water before drinking
SAN ANTONIO โ San Antonio Water System customers should boil their water before drinking it until further notice. Puente said the boil water notice comes out of โan abundance of cautionโ due to low water pressure and said that only water used for drinking needed to be boiled. He said while there are small pockets of water outages in the middle of the city, low water pressure was a bigger issue for most customers. He also said that the lack of power isnโt the only issue for water customers right now. AdDistrict 8 Councilman Manny Pelaez asked SAWS officials how people could be expected to boil water without electricity.
Why donโt you have running water? SAWS explains โcomplicatedโ water issue in San Antonio area
SAN ANTONIO โ Snow started to fall in San Antonio on Sunday and while much of Texas may have looked like a winter wonderland, it soon turned into a nightmare for many residents who lost power and water. For some people without water, the problem may be frozen pipes but for others, the issue may come from SAWS. A viral post on social media falsely claimed that SAWS is turning off residentsโ water, but that is not true. Adโผ๏ธFirst, let us correct a rumor: SAWS is NOT going to shut water off to the city. AdLopez said her familyโs electricity and water had been off for more than 12 hours in the last two days.
Boil water notice issued as city of Kerrville experiences โunprecedented strainโ on water system
KERRVILLE, Texas โ A boil water notice has been issued as the city of Kerrville experiences โunprecedented strainโ on the water system, according to city officials. โWater pressure will be enhanced as the system is able to re-equalize as power is restored and properties with water breaks are turned off. As several water storage tanks have emptied over the day, and some water main breaks have occurred, the system pressure loss has triggered a boil water notice for water that is utilized for human consumption. When it is no longer necessary to boil the water, the public water system officials will notify customers that the water is safe for drinking water or human consumption purposes, city officials said. Once the boil water notice is no longer in effect, the public water system will issue a notice to customers that rescinds the notice.
Trust Index: SAWS โwill notโ shut off water to city amid winter storm
SAWS is not going to shut the water off to the city. SAN ANTONIO โ San Antonio Water System officials said Tuesday that rumors about the utility shutting off water to residents is not true. โผ๏ธFirst, let us correct a rumor: SAWS is NOT going to shut water off to the city. Leave cabinet doors open under the kitchen and bathroom sinks to allow warmer room air to circulate over the pipes. Note: Once warmer weather has returned, itโs important to check the plumbing in areas that might have frozen.
Texas prepares to test for lead in schoolsโ drinking water for the first time
Credit: Allie Goulding/The Texas TribuneTexas will soon begin a program to test drinking water in thousands of elementary schools and child care facilities across the state following an update to federal standards on lead and copper exposure. Now, the agency will be responsible for overseeing a plan to test tens of thousands of water systems that serve children throughout the state over the next three years. Lead usually enters drinking water through lead-based pipes or plumbing โ which were used for decades before being banned in the 1980s. Itโs a very complicated issue to address.โAfter the Flint water crisis gained national attention, at least 17 Texas school districts proactively tested drinking water for lead, according to data compiled by Environment Texas, an Austin-based nonprofit. Even among schools that voluntarily tested and corrected significant sources of lead exposure, many still have some level of lead in the water, said Luke Metzger, executive director of Environment Texas.
SAWS: San Antonio water โconstantly tested,โ safe to drink
TEXAS โ As Texas officials work to clean Lake Jacksonโs water system after it was contaminated by a deadly brain-eating amoeba, San Antonio Water System Officials assured customers that San Antonioโs water is safe to drink. โRest assured, SAWS water is safe to use and drink," said Anne Hayden, SAWS Communications Manager. Hayden said 7,000 water tests are performed each year on San Antonioโs water. Crews will also thoroughly inspect the water system to see if unfiltered water is making its way into the water system. The latest information on San Antonioโs water quality can be found here.
Gov. Abbott issues disaster declaration for Brazoria County after deadly amoeba found in water supply
LAKE JACKSON, Texas. โ A disaster declaration was issued by Gov. Greg Abbott on Sunday for Brazoria County after Naeglera Fowleri, a deadly amoeba, was found in the city of Lake Jacksonโs water supply, according to the governorโs office. โThe state of Texas is taking swift action to respond to the situation and support the communities whose water systems have been impacted by this amoeba,โ said Governor Abbott. RELATED: Deadly microbe water warning lifted for final Texas city
Environmentalists push for more transparency from San Antonio Water System
San Antonio โ Local environmentalists are pushing for more transparency when it comes to San Antonio Water System projects. The announcement was made next to Mud Creek, near the Agua Vista plant on Hardy Oaks, where the groups say water from the Vista Ridge Pipeline project is wastefully dumped. A project 10 years in the making: Vista Ridge Pipeline is now onlineโThis water's already been paid for, and it's just flowing down the creek. The Vista Ridge project was partially completed in April. Editorโs note: This story has been updated to include information about the Central Water Integration Pipeline (CWIP) project.
Boil water order ends for Helotes residents days after water main break
Published: May 23, 2020, 2:59 pm Updated: May 25, 2020, 10:47 amHELOTES, Texas โ A boil water order was canceled for residents in Helotes on Monday morning, days after a significant water main break on Friday caused concern about the potable water supply. The San Antonio Water System rescinded its boil water notice around 10:30 a.m. Monday, according to a news release. Below is a map of the area where residents are currently affected by the water main break. Here is the area impacted by a boil order still in place for Helotes residents after water main break . Boil order issued after water main break in Helotes
Boil order issued after water main break in Helotes
HELOTES, Texas โ A boil order has been issued after a water main break in Helotes sent water shooting up toward the sky Friday afternoon. A San Antonio Water System spokesperson said a non-SAWS contractor was doing work in the area, used a power tool and broke a 20-inch water main. A total of 600 accounts or addresses were affected by the water main break and there was a loss of pressure in the area, according to SAWS officials. That area is still experiencing little to no water pressure and nearby residents will need to boil water until the issue is resolved. Crews will be working on the water main break all night to restore pressure and repair the damage.
Aquifer pumping restrictions may occur within 10 days, EAA says
SAN ANTONIO โ Drought conditions have pushed San Antonio and surrounding areas one step closer to possible restrictions. The Edwards Aquifer, at the J-17 well, is nearing the 660-foot threshold. The Edwards Aquifer Authority, which regulates the aquifer, said restrictions on their end may be only a week to 10 days away. Stage one restrictions for the EAA restricts pumping over the aquifer, which affects SAWS. As of Friday, the Edwards Aquifer, at the J-17 well, sat at 661.5 feet.
E. coli discovered in Fair Oaks Ranch raw water well
The K3 raw water well had a sample test positive for E. Coli in Fair Oaks Ranch, city officials confirmed on Friday. Raw water is a mix of groundwater, rainwater and water from wells. The water is tested as a precautionary measure prior to the water entering the distribution system. It must pass all sample tests before going back into service. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has been notified of the situation, city officials said.
SAWS issues boil water notice for some areas of northwest Bexar County
BEXAR COUNTY, Texas โ UPDATE: The San Antonio Water System has released a clarification on a boil water notice released Friday. A spokeswoman for SAWS said that residents need to boil their water only through Saturday. A previous release stated customers should follow boil water procedures โuntil test results are back late Wednesday.โPREVIOUSLY:The San Antonio Water System is asking residents in some areas of northwest Bexar County to boil water after a now-repaired main break led to a loss in pressure. SAWS said the water main break happened at 26615 Toutant Beauregard, which is the address to McAndrew Elementary. In lieu of boiling, you should consider bottled water or obtain water from some other suitable source.โThis is a map of the affected areas: