Watering Restrictions Loom in San Antonio

Unless Mother Nature steps in with some rain in the next few days, San Antonians could be facing watering restrictions, say officials with the San Antonio Water System.

Due to the severe drought, the Edwards Aquifer has dropped to 662.2 feet as of Tuesday, a little more than two feet over the level where SAWS restricts residential watering to once a week.

“It's possible we could be at 660 (feet) even by Friday,” said SAWS Conservation Director Karen Guz. “We're on standby.”

It is unlikely that San Antonio will see significant rain by Friday, said National Weather Service forecaster Robert Blaha. But if the aquifer can hold on until the weekend, help should be on the way in the form of a strong weather system coming through the area Saturday night and Sunday morning.

“That will bring some rain with showers and thunderstorms,” he said. “And some could get quite active with a weather system like this.”

Guz said there has been a pattern this year of the utility preparing for drought restrictions only to see them staved off by a timely rain. She hopes the pattern continues.

“I feel like the girl who cried wolf, but that's OK,” she said. “But if we don't get a rain, we will surely hit 660.”

If the drought restrictions kick in, they will stay in effect for at least 30 days no matter what happens to the aquifer level during that time.

By Anton Caputo - Express-News