SAWS Vista Ridge Pipeline Project

San Antonio Water System (SAWS) enjoys a position of national leadership as a progressive water utility due to its commitment to conservation and innovative sourcing. Despite dramatic population growth in their service area over the years, SAWS has maintained level overall usage rates by instituting world-class conservation measures.

The San Antonio City Council has signed a $3.4 billion-dollar deal to initiate the delivery of almost 16.3 billion gallons of water per year from Burleson County to San Antonio. The Vista Ridge project requires a 142-mile long pipeline spanning six counties.

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What are the potential financial risks and ecological consequences that the Vista Ridge Pipeline will bring to San Antonio and the region?

• The Vista Ridge Pipeline Project is extremely complex and has many facets and players. Hill Country Alliance has researched the project and produced a brief  Vista Ridge Facts Paper.

• The financial aspects are complicated, but bond markets and large capital experts Jim Smyle and Michelle Gangnes have compiled an easy to understand and comprehensive Financial Facts Paper.

• The much-disputed Long-Term Water Management And Conservation Report draft prepared for the Cities of San Antonio and Fair Oaks Ranch this year labeled the Vista Ridge project as “high risk,” a rating that was downgraded to “moderate risk” in the final version of the report.

• The San Antonio Water System website has links to various resources:
  • Vista Ridge Pipeline Project: Frequently Asked Questions
  • Vista Ridge Pipeline News
  • Downloadable Documents

• Opposition groups are active, and include Environmental Stewardship, The League of Independent Voters of Texas (both of whom have earned a solid base in the counties east and north of Austin where private water sellers would pump the water), San Antonio’s Alamo Sierra Club, The San Marcos River Foundation, Save our Springs Alliance, and Clean Water Action. See their letter of opposition here.
• The comprehensive  No Vista Ridge Pipeline website has amassed additional materials.
• After lengthy negotiations by SAWS and Abengoa, San Antonio City Council signed off on a $3.4 billion dollar contract.
• On October 21, 2015, HCA Texas Water Symposium panelists explored the uncharted waters of large-scale water pipeline projects in Texas. Listen to the Vista Ridge Pipeline Project Texas Water Symposium on Texas Public Radio.
• On February 11, 2016, HCA Texas Water Symposium panelists explored the carrying capacity of the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer and its ability to serve the long-term needs of a thirsty region. Listen to the Texas Public Radio broadcast here.
• Publicly available Carrizo Aquifer science:
  • Supplement: Effects of Vista Ridge Pumping and Additional Pumping by End Op, Forestar, and LCRA on Groundwater and Surface Water in the Lost Pines and Post Oak Savannah Groundwater Conservation Districts –
    George Rice PG, January 26, 2016
  • Effects of Vista Ridge Pumping on Groundwater and Surface Water in the Lost Pines and Post Oak Savannah Groundwater Conservation Districts – George Rice PG. 2015
  • Evaluation of HDR/SAWS Modeling of the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer in Lee, Bastrop, and Milam Counties, Texas – George Rice PG. 2001
• For more information on Aquifers and Groundwater in the Hill Country, visit our Groundwater Resources Web-page