For up-to-date info on this issue, contact Greater Edwards Aquifer Association by e-mailing annalisa@aquiferalliance.org

AGUA Alert, February 14, 2008:

Ask SAWS Board to Withdraw Applications to Expand Service (CCN) Into NW Bexar County

Ask the SAWS Board to withdraw their applications to expand service into Northwest Bexar County: Known as a Certificate of Convenience and Necessity (CCN), if approved, SAWS would be required to provide water/sewer service to any proposed development in NW Bexar County. Providing these services will therefore open up this area, which is in the Recharge and Contributing Zones of the Edwards Aquifer, to increased density (up to 7 homes/acre). This intense development significantly increases the risk of Aquifer contamination and should be discouraged. Below is contact info for the SAWS Board, including a list of members and where they stand on this issue. We need four votes total to oppose this CCN expansion, and WE NEED YOUR HELP TO GET THEM! Please contact the members of the SAWS Board:

Willie A. Mitchell—needs more convincing

Michael W. Lackey, P.E.—more pro-development (ie. needs more convincing)

Mayor Phil Hardberger, ex Officio—opposed to CCN (please write to thank him)

Alexander E. Briseño, Chairman—opposed to CCN (please write to thank him)

Salvadore M. Hernández, Secretary—opposed to CCN (please write to thank him)

R. Douglas Leonhard, Vice Chairman—more pro-development (ie. needs more convincing)

Roberto Anguiano—needs more convincing

by e-mail at board@saws.org

or by mail: P.O. Box 2449 • San Antonio, TX 78298-2449

or by phone: 210.704.7297

Talking points:

• SAWS expansion of service will open the area to high-density development.
• Current regulations specify a minimum size for residential development with on-site sewage facilities to be ½ acre for lots with a central water system and 1-1/2 acres for lots with wells. This is the housing density needed to protect the contributing and recharge zones of the Edwards Aquifer.
• Providing water and sewer systems will open the Hill Country in NW Bexar County to much higher density housing development, easily as high as 4-6 lots per acre.
• Dense housing development will degrade the environment because of high impervious cover, increased traffic, thoroughfare construction, and other related infrastructure development, all leading to continued and irreversible impact on the aquifer.

Technical Stuff:

The sewer CCN applications are as follows:

Application 355668-C, TCEQ Docket No. 2007-0950-UCR, SOAH Docket No. 582-07-3765

Application 35569-C, TCEQ Docket No. 2007-0951-UCR, SOAH Docket No. 582-07-3763

The water CCN applications are:

App. 35484-C, TCEQ 2007-0477-UCR, SOAH Docket No. 582-07-3140

App. 35445-C, TCEQ 2007-0719-UCR, SOAH Docket No. 582-07-3141

THANK YOU! As always, we could not do what we do without YOUR HELP !

Sincerely,

Elyzabeth Earnley

Technical Research Director

Aquifer Guardians in Urban Areas

210.320.6298

www.aquiferguardians.org