SAN ANTONIO – The San Antonio Water System has added a new stream to its water sources. The utility unveiled the H2Oaks Center, its new desalination plant, Friday morning. A SAWS spokeswoman said it has been operating since November.
The $192.7 million plant was more than a decade in the making. It will take "salty (brackish)" water from almost 1,500 feet underground in the Wilcox aquifer and treat it through reverse osmosis to remove salts and minerals.
For every 10 gallons of brackish water that come in, the utility says nine gallons of drinkable water will come out.
"We need to diversify our water source," said Robert Puente, SAWS president & CEO. "That's what we're doing. We're a growing city, so we're adding to our portfolio every chance we get."
SAWS said the plant can put out 12 million gallons a day, which is enough for 53,000 households. The utility provides more than 800,000 households worth of water every day to 1.6 million people.
The plant is another way for SAWS to bring in more water apart from the Edwards Aquifer.
"When a city has only one sole water supply, it won't grow. It can even deteriorate," said Heriberto "Berto" Guerra Jr., SAWS chairman.
Guerra said diversifying water sources means providing water for generations to come.
"Whenever you have a drought, (the Wilcox Aquifer) is underneath us and we can use it. It's at our demand when we need it," Guerra said.
The control room at H2Oaks also oversees the water from the Carrizo Aquifer and the water from the Edwards Aquifer that is stored underground.