The San Antonio River Authority (River Authority) is a full-service wastewater utility provider within its district. The River Authority recognizes that communities are finding it increasingly difficult to meet their water and wastewater needs.
As a result, the River Authority offers the following services to partnering communities:
- Commercial and residential wastewater services
- Construction, operation and maintenance of centralized water distribution and wastewater collection systems
- Emergency and routine water and wastewater treatment systems
- Quality training programs
- Development and implementation of re-use water systems
By partnering with the River Authority, communities in Bexar, Wilson, Karnes and Goliad counties get the assistance they need in meeting both their current and future needs, such as developing alternative infrastructure, making treatment facility improvements and interpreting and complying with changing, and increasingly stringent, rules and regulations.
The River Authority Utilities owns, operates and maintains the wastewater plants and collection systems. The operators and staff continuously attend related accredited sewer and water courses to improve their job performance and maintain or upgrade their state certification status. The plants’ operators are certified by Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).
Sewer Requests
For Sewer Line Backups, Line Locates, Odor or Plant Concerns or 24-hour emergency operations, please complete the form below.
Sewer Lateral Reimbursement Program
Had a backup and fixed it? You could be entitled to reimbursement. Read more about our program and its requirements below.
Wastewater Billing Information
The San Antonio River Authority (River Authority) evaluates its sewer fees annually to ensure the continued success and service of the wastewater utility enterprise. The River Authority Board of Directors adopts the sewer fees in September and changes typically take effect on October 1. As a result, retail customers will see the new rates beginning with their October bill. Monthly billing services are provided on behalf of the River Authority by local water purveyors.
Sewer Billing Frequently Asked Questions
How is the sewer portion of a single-family - residential bill calculated?
The River Authority establishes annual wastewater charges for service based on customer winter averages, operations and maintenance costs, capital projects, and debt service. The calculation for the monthly rate is the following:
(Winter Average x Variable Rate) / 1,000 gallons + Fixed Rate
Winter Average
The winter average is the computed average of the monthly metered water consumption for three consecutive billing periods that fall between November 15 and March 15. Since water is mostly used indoors during the cooler months, and likely ends up processed at a River Authority treatment plant through the sewer system, this serves as the basis for winter averaging. Customers who do not have a winter record of water usage established are billed a system average. Since the River Authority contracts with multiple water purveyors for billing services, please refer to your individual bill to see your billing cycle.
Variable Rate
The variable rate is calculated by taking the operating and maintenance cost to transport, treat, and dispose of wastewater and dividing it by the projected number of gallons of wastewater treated. Operating costs include personnel, supplies, contracted services, and regulatory assessment fees. The variable rate is applied to every 1,000 gallons.
Fixed Rate
The minimum fixed rate is calculated by spreading the capital costs across all customers. This rate recovers capital equipment costs, expenditures for capital improvement projects, and annual debt repayment. The debt repayment covers the annual payment for monies borrowed for major capital improvement projects such as wastewater treatment plant expansions. View more information on the River Authority’s debt obligations.
How is the sewer portion of a non-single-family - residential bill calculated?
What is the difference between a retail and wholesale customer?
Retail wastewater service consists of collection and treatment services provided to the ultimate customer for compensation. Wholesale wastewater service consists of collection and treatment services on behalf of another entity who is not the ultimate consumer of the services.
The River Authority provides retail wastewater service to portions of eastern/northeast Bexar County, the City of San Antonio, and the City of Converse. Wholesale wastewater service is provided to the cities of Converse, Live Oak, Schertz, Universal City, and Green Valley Special Utility District.
Who can I contact for sewer billing questions?
Please contact the River Authority Utilities Department at (210) 302-4200 for sewer billing questions.
Local water purveyors bill River Authority customers on behalf of the River Authority. For non-sewer related questions please contact your water purveyor. See contact information below for the individual water purveyors.
Retail Customers
- East Central Special Utility District
Fax (210) 649-2383
customerservice@ecsud.com - San Antonio Water System
(210) 704 -SAWS (7297)
service@saws.org
Wholesale Customers
- City of Converse
(210) 658-1965
utdeposit@conversetx.net - City of Live Oak
(210) 653-9140 - City of Schertz
(210) 619-1100
businessoffice@schertz.com - City of Universal City
(210) 619-0711
utilitybilling@uctx.gov - Green Valley Special Utility District
(830) 914-2330
Fax (830) 420-4138
Utilities Development Resources
Permitting Portal
San Antonio River Authority is utilizing an online permitting portal, SmartGov, as the primary permitting tool. This portal is used for all development projects within the River Authority’s CCN. Submit new developments for review, track on-going progress, schedule construction inspections, and submit a request for new tie in inspection.
Reports & Documents
Water Purveyor Links
Service Area Maps
Downloadable Resources
Standard Details & Specifications
Sign up to receive email updates!
Email updates will be limited to development related activities at the River Authority.
Utilities Development Advisory Committee
The purpose of the Utilities Development Advisory Committee (UDAC) is to promote sustainable development within the water and wastewater service areas of the San Antonio River Authority (River Authority). As required by Title 12, Subtitle C of the Texas Local Government Code, the UDAC will advise and assist the River Authority with the adoption, implementation, review, and updates of its land use assumptions, capital improvements plan (CIP), impact fees, and other development-related fees and charges.
Get email notification of our next meeting
2025 Meetings
- February 4, 2025 – CIP Update
- May 6, 2025 – General Rates and Fees
- October 7, 2025 – Technical Specifications & Development Update
Membership
Co-Chairs
The UDAC will be co-chaired by two individuals appointed by the River Authority Board of Directors (Board) upon recommendation of the River Authority Operations Committee (Operations Committee). The appointed co-chairs will serve to ensure that processes are observed to include, but are not limited to, consensus, roll-call for decisions, and meeting management norms. One appointed co-chair will represent ratepayers, and the other will represent real estate, development, or building industries. The co-chairs will confer with River Authority facilitators regularly before the meetings. These positions will require additional time commitments than the general committee membership.
Committee Membership
The committee will have a maximum of 11 members, but no less than 5. No less than 40 percent of the UDAC membership must be representatives of the real estate, development, or building industries who are not employees or officials of a political subdivision or government entity. The UDAC must have at least three ratepayers representing the River Authority’s Salitrillo and SARA Wastewater systems. In accordance with the criteria listed above, and to ensure stakeholder group diversity, the members of the UDAC will include representatives from the following stakeholder groups:
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Backups happen! When they do, take these steps.
Call a Licensed Plumber
Call a licensed plumber to identify the location of the problem by conducting a recorded inspection with a video camera and then clear any blockage(s) and/or repair any defect(s) on your side of the lateral.
Call a Remediation (cleaning) Company
If you need clean-up assistance, call a remediation (cleaning) company.
Call the River Authority
Call the River Authority at 210-302-4200 to report the back-up so we can dispatch a team to inspect our sewer main.
If a licensed plumber determines the problem is on the public side of the lateral, you may be entitled to reimbursement of certain expenses you incurred. To be eligible for this program, your plumber must electronically locate the lateral, video record the inspection and mark the location of the obstruction or defect with green paint. You can then schedule a visit by our Utilities Team to review the location by calling our Administrative Offices at 210-302-4200.
The River Authority will review your request to determine if you are eligible for reimbursement of expenses for the licensed plumber’s normal and customary charges.
To submit a request for reimbursement to the San Antonio River Authority, you must submit the following:
- Legible receipt from your licensed plumber
- Letter explaining the events. Please include:
- Your Name
- Address of repair
- Contact name
- Mailing Address
- Phone Number
Requests can be submitted via:
Submit a webform (Preferred)
Please complete the online form below.
Send us a letter to the following address: San Antonio River Authority Utilities Department
ATTN: Collections Team
100 E. Guenther Street
San Antonio, TX 78204
Once your request is received, we will contact you to confirm that it is complete for processing.
Please allow 4-6 weeks to verify and process your request.
The back-up reported may be caused by a problem in the sewer lateral line from your house to the sewer main line. See the diagram above of a typical residential sewer lateral line for details.
**If the blockage is found to be on your side of the property line, you will not be entitled to reimbursement.
Sewer Lateral Reimbursement Form
Connection Fee Information
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Tips for Keeping Your Pipes Clean
Tip #1
Trash the Wipes
No Wipes in the Pipes! Proper disposal of wipes keeps our wastewater systems working smoothly, protects the infrastructure and keeps our creeks and rivers free of contaminants.
Place the following in the trash after use:
- Baby wipes
- Flushable wipes
- Cloth towels
- Paper towels
- Disinfecting wipes
- Rags
- Disposable wipes
- Towelettes
- Facial tissues
- Wet wipes
- Feminine hygiene products
- Make-up wipes
Tip #2
NO Fats, Oils & Grease (F.O.G.)
Pouring and washing fats, oils and grease down the drain causes grease build-up in the pipes leading to major damage and restricts the flow of wastewater from homes, businesses and along wastewater lines resulting in increased costs to residents and business owners and contamination to area creeks and rivers.
Heavy foods that should not go down the drain:
- Animal fats
- Lard
- Butter
- Margarine
- Dairy products
- Oils
- Desserts
- Sauces
- Dressings
- Shortening
- Food scraps
- Soups
