An irrigation sprinkler (also known as a water sprinkler or simply a sprinkler) is a device used to irrigate agricultural crops, lawns, landscapes, golf courses, and other areas.
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MYSA
By Catherine Wilson
Drought conditions continue to wear on, affecting thousands of Bexar County residents. With no end in sight, the San Antonio Water System (SAWS) wants to take measures to make sure every last drop of water is spared.
During a meeting with the board of trustees, SAWS proposed new provisions to conserve water, which includes changing the enforcement of water restrictions. With the change, Municipal Court citations would be replaced by a charge on the water bill. In addition, violators could be charged with higher costs depending on the alleged use and drought stage, according to a SAWS news release.
The last time the City of San Antonio updated its water guidelines was in 2014. Since then, the city’s population has exploded and technology, such as the use of built-in sprinkler systems, has evolved, according to the release.
SAWS is attributing some of the strain to these new systems, which are outfitted in almost all new construction builds. However, SAWS deems the use of these systems can be inefficient and wasteful, ultimately causing residents to have higher water bills and waste scarce resources, the release claimed.
A majority of SAWS customers have followed drought protocol, but the change in guidelines might be necessary to help control those who use a lot of water on their lawns. In 2022, 6% of top residential water users used 21% of the water established for all users, while the lowest 52% used 23% of the water, SAWS Vice President of Conservation Karen Guz said in the release.
Some of these areas with profound usage saw the SAWS water system tank levels drop beyond normal overnight. These areas, like the ones with high populations of homes using sprinkler systems, are being zeroed in on with an increased patrol presence, which may result in more citations, according to the release.
This year, SAWS has given out more than 3,000 citations and patrolling is set to continue, including within gated communities. Community stakeholder meetings will continue for the next six to eight months, followed by a possible decision to ratify these measures, which includes setting a fee structure that would pay for increased enforcement, the release stated.
The proposed measures come during a time when Bexar County is experiencing stage 2 water restrictions. SAWS wants to remind customers to water on their designated day once a week. Use of a sprinkler system should be confined to the hours of 7 to 11 a.m. and 7 to 11 p.m. For more information about drought water restrictions visit the SAWS website.