Water Conservation

In 2007, the 80th Texas Legislature amended Section 13.146 of the Texas Water Code to require each retail public utility that provides potable water service to 3,300 or more connections to submit a water conservation plan to the Texas Water Development Board no later than May 1, 2009.  On April 27, 2009, the City Council adopted a City Water Conservation Plan and approved submission of the plan to the Texas Water Development Board.

The City of Alamo Heights’ sole source of water is the Edwards Aquifer which is one of the world’s most unique groundwater resources. The aquifer covers over a 3,000 square mile area. In 2008, the Edwards Aquifer Authority (EAA) implemented new Stage Water Restrictions which reduce the amount of water that may be pumped by a water utility during drought conditions. The adopted Stage Water Restrictions are as follows:

Critical Period (Reduction) Stage* Index Well J-17 Level (MSL) San Marcos Spring Flow (CFS) Comal Springs Springs Flow (CFS) Withdrawal Reduction – San Antonio Pool
I <660 <96 <225 20%
II <650 <80 <200 30%
III <640 N/A <150 35%
IV <630 N/A <100 40%
V <625 N/A <45/40 44%

* Implementation of Stage I is based on a 10-day average. A change to a critical period stage with higher withdrawal reduction percentages is triggered if the 10-day average of daily springflows at the Comal Springs or the San Marcos Springs or the 10-day average of daily aquifer levels at the J-17 Index Well drops below the lowest number of any of the trigger levels. A change to a critical period stage with lower withdrawal reduction percentages is triggered only when the 10-day average of daily springflows at the Comal Springs or the San Marcos Springs and the 10-day average of daily aquifer levels at the J17 Index Well are all above the same stage trigger level.

In December 2023, to reduce groundwater use consumption and encourage water conservation measures, Alamo Heights City Council passed Ordinance No. 2217 amending Chapter 19 – Water and Sewers, Article III Conservation of Groundwater to adopt a Drought Surcharge Fee.  A drought surcharge fee will be assessed when the City declares a Critical Drought Stage (Stages 1 to 5) and the customer’s monthly water consumption exceeds the Consumption Threshold for the account type:  Residential, Commercial and Multi-Family, Institutional or Irrigation.  The fee is effective February 1, 2024.  More information on the Drought Surcharge Fee can be found here.