Regional Water Planning

As part of securing adequate water for our communities, the San Antonio River Authority (River Authority) has participated in extensive planning with others in the region facing similar needs.

SB1

In 1997, the Texas State Legislature approved Senate Bill 1 to meet the State’s water needs through 2050. SB 1 created 16 planning regions and mandated the creation of regional water plans. The River Authority was selected to serve as the program manager for Region L, also known as the South Central Texas Region, comprised of 20 1/2 counties including The River Authority’s four-county region.

The South Central Texas Regional Water Planning Group, comprised of water user groups, environmental groups, government entities and the public, of which the River Authority is a member, has been working on the Region L Water Plan which must be updated and resubmitted every five years. In January 2006, the group approved a plan to submit to the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) that identified water resource options with the potential to meet the major demands through 2060. The Texas Water Development Board adopted the 2007 State Water Plan on November 14, 2006. The TWDB adopted the 2016 State Water Plan in December of 2015. Current Region L efforts are focused on the development of the 2021 Regional Water Plan.

South Central Texas Regional Water Planning Group Website: www.regionltexas.org

RWA (Regional Water Alliance)

Purpose

To promote and facilitate the sharing of ideas, knowledge, experience and resources with the end goal of developing collaborative water projects.

Description

The Regional Water Alliance, created in 2006, represents 19 local water purveyors and regional water entities. Each water purveyor and regional water entity’s governing body executed an interlocal agreement pledging to assist each other with:

• Assessing and developing water supply options on a regional basis;
• Promoting regional conservation and reuse of water resources;
• Working together to realize region-wide efficiencies and economies of scale in the development, distribution and operation of water projects for the mutual benefit of a diverse customer base and;
• Advancing a synergistic alliance among water agencies to jointly investigate funding opportunities, influence state and federal water regulations and policy, conduct study efforts and support a common voice in water issues facing the region.