- The city exclusively uses groundwater from the Edwards Aquifer Authority (EAA) which regulates usage and enacts restrictions during drought - An amendment is proposed to add further restrictions on water usage for Stages 4 and 5 of drought along with a new groundwater surcharge fee - The amendment and fee are aimed at helping the city reduce water usage by 40% as required under Stage 4 restrictions recently enacted by EAA

1. ADMINISTRATION
Presented by:
Phil Laney
Assistant City Manager
CHAPTER 19 – WATER & SEWER AMENDMENT FOR
WATER RESTRICTIONS
ITEM #s 12 &13
AUGUST 28, 2023

2. SUMMARY
 City pumps potable groundwater exclusively from
Edwards Aquifer Authority (EAA)
 EAA regulates usage & enacts restrictions when
capacity low due to drought or usage
 Amendment to City Code to include additional
groundwater use restrictions for Stages 4 & 5
 Amendment for new groundwater use surcharge fee

3. BACKGROUND
 Edwards Aquifer Authority (EAA) exclusive
provider of City potable groundwater
 EAA provides water to 2.5 million people &
includes 8 counties, including all of Bexar Co.
 City mandated to follow EAA guidelines on
pumping capacity & when necessary, restrictions

4. BACKGROUND
 Edwards Aquifer Authority critical period /
reduction stage (Well J-17)
 Stage 1 <660 – 20% reduction
 Stage 2 <650 – 30% reduction
 Stage 3 <640 – 35% reduction
 Stage 4 <630 – 40% reduction
 Stage 5 <625 – 44% reduction
 Since 2000, Stage 4 reached three times: 2014,
2022 for 24 days & since July 21st, 2023

5. HISTORICAL AQUIFER LEVELS
Mar, 660.0
Jul, 667.8
Oct, 663.1 Dec, 664.1
Mar, 657.1
Jul, 634.0
Oct, 631.7
Dec, 637.2
Mar, 635.4
Jul, 630.8
Aug, 626.6
620
630
640
650
660
670
680
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Edwards Aquifer Authority – Average Water Level, 2021 to 2023
2021 2022 2023
Stage 1
Stage 2
Stage 3
Stage 4
Stage 5

6. PERMITTED WATER CAPACITY
City Pumping
from EAA
Annual Pumped
Amount (in Acre Ft.)
% of Max.
Capacity Used
2020 2,001 71%
2021 1,810 64%
2022 2,059 73%
2023 YTD 1,112 39%
 City water capacity purchased from EAA – 2,822 Acre Feet
 Permitted capacity reduced if pumping restrictions in place
2023 revised capacity with
pumping restrictions in place
Stage
through Year
End
Revised
Permitted
Capacity
% of Capacity
Used (as of
7/31/23)
Stage 3 1,841 60%
Stage 4 1,788 62%
Stage 5 1,742 64%
If current trends continue,
projecting est. 150 to 200 AF
more than revised allotment

7. GROUNDWATER USE REDUCTION
 EAA entered into Stage 4 on July 21st
 City mandated to meet 40% reduction per City
code
 EAA may assess penalties for over-pumping
 To meet pumping reduction, amending Ch. 19 –
Water & Sewer, Article III – Conservation of
Groundwater
 Add stage 5 indicator for groundwater use program
 Add & amend groundwater use reduction measures
 Enact groundwater use surcharge fees

8. AMENDMENT - STAGE 4 & 5 REDUCTION
MEASURES
1. Filling or refilling of pools prohibited with City or
EAA water
2. No new irrigation & swimming pool permits
3. No watering exceptions for new lawns or
landscaping (requests only to City Council & $2,000
fee)
4. No application for new, additional or increased-in-
size water service connections, meters or service
lines
 Exemptions: new construction or $2,000 fee

9. AMENDMENT - STAGE 4 & 5 REDUCTION
MEASURES
5. Penalties for water violations issued with
minimal or no warnings
6. Prohibit water well permits for residential
watering
7. Prohibit watering using automatic or manual
irrigation systems

10. GROUNDWATER SURCHARGE FEE
 Ch. 19 authorizes fee during any reduction stage to
deter water use
 Proposed fees to be in effect for Stages 1 to 5
 Option 1 - Customers using 1,001 cubic feet (cf) or more per
month charged surcharge fee for any stage (~7,500 gallons)
 Option 2 – Customers using 2,301cf or more charged
surcharge fee for any stage (~17,500 gallons)
 Two fee tables: 1) Residential, MF & Institutional and
2) Commercial & Irrigation

11. WATER CUSTOMERS BY ACCOUNT TYPE
80%
3% 1%
6% 10%
61%
6% 2%
12%
19%
Residential Multi-Family Institutional Commercial Irrigation
CUSTOMER ACCOUNT TYPE & CONSUMPTION
Customers Consumption

12. WATER CONSUMPTION & CUSTOMERS
57%
1,667 accts
26%
736
16%
478
39%
1,085 accts 31%
864
30%
845
17%
0.8M CF
25%
58%
2.7M CF
8%
0.5M CF
19%
73%
5.1M CF
Under 1,000 cf 1,001 to
2,300 cf
2,301 cf
or more
Under 1,000 cf 1,001 to
2,300 cf
2,301 cf
or more
Customers Consumption (in Cubic Feet)
May2023 – Moderate Use August 2022 – High Use

13. GROUNDWATER SURCHARGE FEE – OPTION 1
Residential, MF & Institutional
Consumption
(in CF)
Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 Stage 4 Stage 5
500 or less $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
501 to 1,000 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
1,001 to 2,300 $1.00 $2.00 $3.00 $5.00 $8.00
2,301 or more $2.00 $3.00 $5.00 $10.00 $15.00
 Monthly surcharge fee assessed for users over 1,001 cf (~7,500 gals.) on every 100
cf of water consumed
 Without change, 40-55% of residential users (900 to 1,300 accounts) may have
monthly fee, with estimated average fee of $90-$130 in Stg 3 or $170-$255 in Stg 4

14. GROUNDWATER SURCHARGE FEE – OPTION 1
Commercial & Irrigation
Consumption
(in CF)
Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 Stage 4 Stage 5
500 or less $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
501 to 1,000 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
1,001 to 2,300 $2.00 $3.00 $4.00 $7.00 $10.00
2,301 or more $3.00 $4.00 $6.00 $12.00 $17.00
 Monthly surcharge fee assessed for users over 1,001 cf (~7,500 gals.) on every 100
cf of water consumed
 Without change, 55-75% of all accounts in this group (270 to 350) may have monthly
fee, with estimated average fee of $280-$350 in Stg 3 or $550-$700 in Stg 4

15. SURCHARGE FEE ESTIMATED IMPACTS –
OPTION 1
58%
74%
67%
49%
83%
61%
Resid-
ential
Multi-
Family
Institu-
tional
Comm-
ercial
Irrigation All
Accounts
ESTIMATED ACCOUNTS CHARGED
SURCHARGE FEE*
* Assumes high use month & no behavior change
Average Fee per Month (Moderate & High
Use)
Account
Type
Stage 3 Stage 4
Residential $90 - $130 $170 - $280
Multi-Family $260 - $280 $500 - $550
Institutional $420 - $650 $850 - $1,300
Commercial $450 - $520 $900 - $1,200
Irrigation $200 - $300 $400 - $600
All Accounts $140 - $180 $280 - $360

16. GROUNDWATER SURCHARGE FEE – OPTION 2
Residential, MF & Institutional
Consumption
(in CF)
Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 Stage 4 Stage 5
500 or less $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
501 to 1,000 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
1,001 to 2,300 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
2,301 or more $2.00 $3.00 $5.00 $10.00 $15.00
 Monthly surcharge fee assessed for users over 2,301 cf (~17,200 gals.) on every 100
cf of water consumed
 Without change, 13-25% of residential users (300 to 600 accounts) may have monthly
fee, with estimated average fee of $190-$250 in Stg 3 or $400-$472 in Stg 4

17. GROUNDWATER SURCHARGE FEE – OPTION 2
Commercial & Irrigation
Consumption
(in CF)
Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 Stage 4 Stage 5
500 or less $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
501 to 1,000 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
1,001 to 2,300 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
2,301 or more $3.00 $4.00 $6.00 $12.00 $17.00
 Monthly surcharge fee assessed for users over 2,301 cf (~17,200 gals.) on every 100
cf of water consumed
 Without change, 30-45% of all accounts in this group (140 to 220) may have monthly
fee, with estimated average fee of $450-$550 in Stg 3 or $950-$1,050 in Stg 4

18. SURCHARGE FEE ESTIMATED IMPACTS –
OPTION 2
26%
43%
53%
30%
53%
30%
Resid-
ential
Multi-
Family
Institu-
tional
Comm-
ercial
Irrigation All
Accounts
ESTIMATED ACCOUNTS CHARGED
SURCHARGE FEE
* Assumes high use month & no behavior change
Average Fee per Month (Moderate & High
Use)
Account
Type
Stage 3 Stage 4
Residential $190 - $240 $400 - $500
Multi-Family $390 - $450 $750 - $900
Institutional $500 - $800 $1,100-$1,600
Commercial $700 - $800 $1,400-$1,600
Irrigation $350 - $450 $700 - $900
All Accounts $300 - $350 $600 - $650

19. POLICY ANALYSIS
 Ordinance consistent with City’s agreement with
Edwards Aquifer Authority to abide by pumping
restrictions during drought periods
 Compliance with agreement also
 Demonstrates natural resource stewardship
 May factor into consideration for EAA penalties if
City over-pumps

20. COORDINATION
 Mayor & City Council during staff report at August
14, 2023 Council meeting
 City Attorney
 City Manager
 If groundwater surcharge fee adopted –
 Public notification in newspaper, 2x
 Customers notified on next water & sewer bill
 Fee implemented on following billing cycle

21. FISCAL IMPACT
 No fiscal impact to expenditures
 Revenues may be impacted due to
 Delays in issuance of permits (General Fund)
 Collection of groundwater use surcharge fees
(Utility Fund)