BexarMet Merger Approved - San Antonio Water System

SAWS Bill Reflects New Water Rates > READ MORE HERE >>>>
February 2012
BexarMet Merger Approved
SAWS Ready to Welcome New Customers and Employees
After notification by the Department of Justice on Jan. 27, SAWS
started the hard work of merging the two utilities.
“We have spent over a year planning for the possibility of this day,
and together with our new employees we are prepared to move
forward as one professional utility for the San Antonio area,” said
Robert R. Puente, SAWS president/CEO.
Senate Bill 341 provides up to five years to completely integrate
the former BexarMet system. “With the added cooperation from
the BexarMet staff since the election, we feel we can get it done
faster,” added Puente.
“Consolidation of the two utilities is the best thing for San Antonio,”
said Joe Aceves, SAWS project manager overseeing the BexarMet
integration. “We have identified priority tasks, and we ask for the
community’s help and understanding as we work to bring these
two utilities together as quickly and efficiently as possible.”
“Through careful planning and cooperation, we hope to identify
and capture efficiencies, stabilize operations and control costs
over time,” added Aceves.
Until notified otherwise, former BexarMet customers should
continue to pay their bills as before.
Top 10 Priorities in the first year of integration efforts:
• Continue transitioning BexarMet employees to SAWS.
• Begin integrating customer service functions and active
communication with the public.
• Develop a BexarMet Special Project budget that will stabilize
BexarMet finances without impacting SAWS ratepayers’ rates or
credit status.
• Develop a Medina Lake backup water supply plan for the South
side service area by preparing Special Project Edwards Aquifer
wells for production.
• Eliminate trucking water to Anaqua Springs by connecting it to
the SAWS system.
• Establish the BexarMet Advisory Committee to help guide the
integration process. You can find more details about the advisory
committee and an application form at www.saws.org/welcome.
• Begin integration of billing and information systems. This goal is
for customers to receive one bill from SAWS for both water and
sewer service within six months.
• Implement safety and security measures, such as 24-hour
emergency response and secured BexarMet facilities.
On Jan. 28, BexarMet signage was replaced with SAWS
at its district headquarters on West Malone,
which will now serve as a SAWS service center.
and on page 2...
• Conduct a thorough analysis of available BexarMet water supplies.
• Conduct a thorough analysis of BexarMet contracts.
> Spring Bloom > Community Calendar > FOG Fee
Roughly 1,000 bald eagles journey to Texas each
year, nesting from December through February.
Bald eagle nests – the largest of any North
American bird species – are typically found
within a mile of a large body of water. Some
state parks offer eagle-watching tours.
Now that your mower is on a break, it’s
a good time to do some maintenance to
make sure it’s ready to go in the spring.
Sharpen the blades, change the oil and
replace oil and fuel filters. If there’s fuel
left in the mower, add fuel stabilizer to
facilitate emptying the tank.
SAWS Bill Reflects New Rates
Spring is in Bloom at SAWS
Landscape Care Focus of Annual Event
Increase Will Help Pay for Aging Sewer
Pipes, Other Infrastructure
As of Jan. 1, your SAWS services are now being
billed at our new rates.
Following months of public discussion and more
than 70 community meetings, the new rates were
approved by San Antonio City Council back in
December.
Mark Your
calendar
The bulk of the rate increase will go toward replacing aging sewer pipes and other infrastructure
needs, along with new water resource development.
Before long, the weather will turn warm,
flowers will be flourishing and the front
parking lot of SAWS Headquarters will
transform into a gardener’s paradise.
Spring Bloom happens from 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Saturday, March 10, at SAWS Headquarters,
2800 U.S. Hwy 281 North.
Luminaria
Arts Come to Light
March 10
Downtown
San Antonio
www.luminariasa.org
Learn more about the new SAWS rates at www.saws.org/rates.
Fats, Oils and Grease Fee
in Effect
New City Ordinance Aims for
Grease Reduction
gardening tips
Murphy’s St. Patrick’s
Day River Parade &
Festival
March 17
San Antonio Riverwalk
To help keep grease out of the sewer, SAWS
recently introduced a new two-tiered fee for food
establishments on Jan. 1.
A new city ordinance focusing on grease
reduction for area food service and processing
establishments will increase inspection of facilities
from once every three years to once per year and
encourage the use of best management practices.
landscaping advice
Saturday, March 10
9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
www.thesanantonioriverwalk.com/events
Requiring an approved grease trap to prevent
grease and other wastes from entering the sewer
system, the Fats, Oils and Grease fee, or FOG
fee, will charge a lower fee of $12.25 per month
for establishments that adhere to SAWS’ Best
Management Practices. Restaurants can register
online to qualify for the lower fee.
5K Wine Run
March 24
The Shops at
La Cantera
15900 La Cantera Pkwy.
www.culinariasa.org
A general fee of $25.50 per month will be charged
for those facilities that do not utilize the policy.
This fun, free event is your opportunity to
learn about gardening, landscape care, and
so much more. SAWS and other participants
will offer great tips to help spruce up your
yard while still saving water, and your
favorite local gardening and landscape
experts will be speaking throughout the day.
Visit saws.org for information.
For more information about how SAWS is
preventing sanitary sewer overflows or to
register your establishment for Best Management
Practices, go to www.saws.org/FOG.
Contact Us
CUSTOMER SERVICE
704-SAWS (7297)
T.D.D. 233-3153
www.saws.org
24-HOUR EMERGENCY
704-SAWS (7297)
PAST EDITIONS
www.saws.org/waternews