Water Resources > Water Supply

Water Supply

Western Canyon Project

The Western Canyon Project in construction began in April, 2002, and is slated for completion by April 2004. The project will supply treated water to homes in Comal, Kendall, and Bexar Counties. SARA has entered into an agreement with GBRA to receive 10 acre/ft per year with an ultimate amount of 50 acre/ft per year. For further information about the project, please visit the GBRA website: http://www.gbra.org. For more information about SARA’s involvement in the project, please contact Steve Raabe, Director of Planning and Development, (210) 302-3641.

It will consist of facilities for the diversion of raw water from the Canyon Reservoir, a water treatment plant, facilities to convey the raw water after diversion from Canyon Reservoir to the Plant, and facilities to convey treated water from the Plant for use in areas within portions of Comal, Kendall and Bexar Counties. The ultimate goal is to provide an additional supply of treated surface water at an economical cost to the local communities who currently receive their water supply from the Trinity Aquifer and the Edwards Aquifer. GBRA will initially treat 10,500 acre-feet of water, which will be distributed through approximately 43 miles of pipeline to its customers.

Regional Water Resources Development Group

Through an interlocal agreement, SARA administers and manages the Regional Water Resource Development Group (RWRDG) created by the San Antonio Water System (SAWS) in 1998. RWRDG is a coalition of 12 Edwards Aquifer communities and water systems that jointly acquire unused Edwards Aquifer water rights from irrigators and industrial permit holders through purchase, lease or trade to supplement community withdrawal permits. The acquired supply is pooled and made available to RWRDG members to supplement existing supplies and meet identified shortages. The original target was to acquire 10,000 acre-feet or more of ground water rights through lease or purchase. As of June 2005, RWRDG has purchased approximately 18,024 acre-feet in water rights and leased another approximately 57,934 acre-feet.