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24/7-Emergency Services Still RunningSan Antonio Water System offices will close for the following holidays:

ChristmasWeds. - Fri., Dec. 24-26 New Year’s Weds. - Fri., Dec. 31-Jan. 2 Emergency crews will continue operation 24/7. For emergency water or sewer assistance, call 704-SAWS (704-7297).

Give Your Sprinklers a Holiday VacationDecember 2014 Beware of Imposters / SAWS Holiday Closings

Some might say this is the best time of the year. Temperatures are cooler, fireplaces are blazing and holiday gatherings are filled with good cheer. Another great thing about this time of year? The end of regular landscape watering. That’s right. Many plants and especially lawns need very little water in winter because there is no photosynthesis occur-ring. With the cooler weather and more frequent rains, additional moisture could also increase the chance of lawn disease. Also, because roots require oxygen to sur-vive and grow — which they do in fall and

winter, albeit at a slower rate — any excess water can suffocate the roots. You can help prevent this by simply turn-ing off your irrigation system.Saving water now can also save you mon-ey throughout 2015. Because SAWS sewer charges are based on your average winter water use, watering your landscape less now can add up to big savings all year long. Need help with your irrigation system controller? SAWS conservation consultants provide year-round, water-wise advice. Call 210-704-SAVE (704-7283) to make an appointment.

A rate adjustment approved in Novem-ber 2013 by San Antonio City Council is set to take effect Jan. 1, 2015 — an increase of $2.80 or 5.3 percent on the average residential bill.Approximately 84 percent of new rev-enue will be used to address long-term water supply and sewer system needs.

This includes expansion of the success-ful local Carrizo Aquifer water supply program and major sewer upgrades required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The tables on pages 2 and 3 show the new rates for each service and customer type. Your own bill may be higher or

lower depending on your water use.Please note that water rates will not increase for customers in areas formerly served by Bexar Metropolitan Water District. However, the new wastewater rates apply to all areas served by SAWS.To learn more visit www.saws.org/rates.

Reminder of New Rates for 2015

SAWS Billing Schedule Changing in 2015 SAWS Offices Close for Holidays

Billing cycles for some residential and commercial SAWS customers will change beginning January 2015. Affected customers will receive a letter in December explaining how this will impact when their meter is read and their billing due date. The change will help SAWS become more efficient and further integrate former BexarMet service areas into a unified meter reading schedule.

San Antonio Water System is required by law to publish a new rate schedule for water service, water supply, irrigation, wastewater rates and recycled water rates. These new rates will be effective for consumption on or about January 1, 2015. If you would like more information or assistance on estimating your bill, contact SAWS at 704-SAWS. An online calculator is also available at www.saws.org/rates.

PO Box 2449, San Antonio, TX 78298 • 210-704-SAWS • www.saws.org/rates

Advisory of New Water, Water Supply, Wastewater and Recycled Water Rates

Meter Size Inside City Outside City5/8” $7.57 $9.86 3/4” $10.63 $13.82 1” $16.72 $21.72

1-1/2” $31.94 $41.52 2” $50.18 $65.26 3” $92.80 $120.66 4” $153.67 $199.78 6” $305.86 $397.62 8” $488.47 $635.03

10” $701.52 $911.98 12” $1,310.24 $1,703.33

Volume Charges per 100 GallonsStandard Rates

Inside City Outside CityBlock 1: First 5,985 $0.1006 $0.1310Block 2: Next 6,732 $0.1457 $0.1894Block 3: Next 4,488 $0.2053 $0.2671Block 4: Over 17,205 $0.3596 $0.4675Seasonal Rates

Inside City Outside CityBlock 1: First 5,985 $0.1006 $0.1310Block 2: Next 6,732 $0.1584 $0.2060Block 3: Next 4,488 $0.2355 $0.3062Block 4: Over 17,205 $0.4880 $0.6341

New Residential Class Water Rates - 2015Monthly Service Availability Charge

Meter Size5/8” $9.51 3/4” $12.37 1” $16.11

1-1/2” $25.61 2” $37.45 3” $99.61 4” $148.06 6” $282.44 8” $425.73

10” $583.77 12” $720.27

Volume Charges per 100 GallonsEdwards Exchange Standard Rates Seasonal Rates

Transferred amount $0.0250 $0.0250 All in excess of transferred amount

0.0938 0.0997

Non-Edwards Exchg. Standard Rates Seasonal RatesFirst 748,000 $0.1004 $0.1079 Over 748,000 0.1026 0.1089

New Recycled Class Water Rates - 2015Monthly Service Availability Charge

Applicable Rate Class

Usage Blocks, Gallons

"Fee to be Assessed (per 100 gallons)"

Residential Block 1: First 5,985 $0.1285 Block 2: Next 6,732 $0.1858 Block 3: Next 4,488 $0.2622

Block 4:Over 17,205 $0.4589 General Base* $0.1976

>100-125% of Base $0.1976 >125-175% of Base $0.1976

>175% of Base $0.1976 Wholesale Base* $0.1976

>100-125% of Base $0.1976 >125-175% of Base $0.1976

>175% of Base $0.1976 Irrigation Block 1: 0 Gallons $0.0000

Block 2: Next 6,732 $0.1976 Block 3: Next 10,473 $0.2622 Block 4: Over 17,205 $0.4976

*Base equals 100% of the Annual Average Consumption

New Water Supply Fee Rates - 2015

Meter Size Inside City Outside City6” $305.86 $397.62 8” $488.47 $635.03

10” $701.52 $911.98 12” $1,310.24 $1,703.33

Volume Charges per 100 GallonsInside City Outside City

Base* $0.0845 $0.1098>100-125% of Base $0.1269 $0.1650>125-175% of Base $0.1833 $0.2383>175% of Base $0.2592 $0.3369

*Base equals 100% of the Annual Average Consumption

New Wholesale Class Water Rates - 2015Monthly Service Availability Charge

Meter Size Inside City Outside City5/8” $10.53 $13.69 3/4” $15.05 $19.56 1” $24.08 $31.29

1-1/2” $46.65 $60.65 2” $73.74 $95.87 3” $136.96 $178.06 4” $227.28 $295.46 6” $453.06 $588.98 8” $723.99 $941.20

10” $1,040.08 $1,352.11 12” $1,943.21 $2,526.17

Volume Charges per 100 GallonsStandard Rates Inside City Outside CityBlock 1: 0 Gallons $0.0000 $0.0000Block 2: Next 6,732 $0.1713 $0.2225Block 3: Next 10,473 $0.2053 $0.2670Block 4: Over 17,205 $0.3596 $0.4675Seasonal Rates Inside City Outside CityBlock 1: 0 Gallons $0.0000 $0.0000Block 2: Next 6,732 $0.1713 $0.2225Block 3: Next 10,473 $0.2384 $0.3100Block 4: Over 17,205 $0.4936 $0.6416

New Irrigation Class Water Rates - 2015Monthly Service Availability Charge

Meter Size Inside City Outside City5/8” $10.53 $13.69 3/4” $15.05 $19.56 1” $24.08 $31.29

1-1/2” $46.65 $60.65 2” $73.74 $95.87 3” $136.96 $178.06 4” $227.28 $295.46 6” $453.06 $588.98 8” $723.99 $941.20

10” $1,040.08 $1,352.11 12” $1,943.21 $2,526.17

Volume Charges per 100 GallonsInside City Outside City

Base* $0.1218 $0.1584>100-125% of Base $0.1457 $0.1893>125-175% of Base $0.2042 $0.2654>175% of Base $0.2991 $0.3887

*Base equals 100% of the Annual Average Consumption

New General Class Water Rates - 2015Monthly Service Availability Charge

Inside CityMonthly Service Availability Charge(includes first 1,496 gallons)

$ 12.69

Over 1,496 gallons 0.3365 * Outside City

Monthly Service Availability Charge(includes first 1,496 gallons)

$ 15.25

Over 1,496 gallons 0.4038 * * Volume Charge per 100 gallons

New General Class Wastewater Rates - 2015

Inside CityVolume Charge per 100 gallons $ 0.3032 Volume Charge per 100 cubic feet 2.28

Outside CityMonthly Service Availability Charge $ 149.02 Volume Charge per 100 gallons 0.3641 Volume Charge per 100 cubic feet 2.72

New Wholesale Class Wastewater Rates - 2015

Inside CityMonthly Service Availability Charge (includes first 1,496 gallons)

$ 12.69

Over 1,496 gallons ** 0.3365 * Customers who do not have a record of winter water usage or an interim average will be billed an Unaveraged or Unmetered

Residential Charge of $35.35 per month. Outside City

Monthly Service Availability Charge (includes first 1,496 gallons)

$ 15.25

Over 1,496 gallons ** 0.4038 * Customers who do not have a record of winter water usage or an interim average will be billed an Unaveraged or Unmetered

Residential Charge of $42.43 per month. * Volume Charge per 100 gallons** Determined by Winter Average Consumption

New Residential Class Wastewater Rates - 2015

Seasonal Rates: Water rates applied to all billings beginning on or about May 1 and ending after five complete billing months on or about September 30 of each year.Standard Rates: Water rates applied to all billings beginning on or about October 1 and ending after seven complete billing months on or about April 30 of each year.General Class: Includes Commercial, Industrial and Apartment Customers.Irrigation Class: Customers that use water for landscaping, either through a separate meter or through a pro-rated amount of monthly water use. New business service accounts that are installing an in-ground landscape irrigation system are required to install a separate landscape irrigation meter.Wholesale Class: Customers who have entered into contracts for wholesale water and/or sewer service with SAWS.Recycled Water Class: Customers that use recycled water produced by SAWS for

non-potable applications through a separate recycled water meter.Base Consumption: 100% of average monthly consumption of prior year.Inside City: Rates charged for customers living inside City of San Antonio City Limits.Outside City: Rates charged for customers living outside City of San Antonio City Limits.Winter Average Consumption: The fee for sewer service is based on the average monthly consumption of water during three complete consecutive billing periods beginning on or after November 15 of each year and ending on or after three full billing cycles in March.Wastewater Customers of Other Cities: A different rate may apply to customers being billed by SAWS for wastewater for other municipal bodies.

RATE TABLE DEFINITIONS:

SAWS CUSTOMER SERVICE or 24-HOUR EMERGENCY704-SAWS (7297)

PAST EDITIONSwww.saws.org/waternews

Fireworks Safety

Beware of Imposters!

Make sure your in-ground irrigation system has a functioning rain sensor to keep it from running while it’s raining.

San Antonio city ordinance requires it.

Celebrate San Antonio New

Year’s Eve Festival Dec. 31

Alamo Street (between Market and

Cesar Chavez)celebratesa.org

Valero Alamo Bowl Jan. 2

Alamodome 100 Montana St.alamobowl.com

Picture Your WorldJan. 11

Comanche Peak Lookout Park

15060 Judson Road greensatx.org

Martin Luther King Jr. March

Jan. 19MLK Academy

3501 MLK Drive sanantonio.gov/mlk

Before you trek to the nearest fireworks stand to stock up on celebratory pyrotechnics, remember this: It’s against the law to pop fireworks within San Antonio city limits. Even simply having fireworks in your possession or transporting them through the city without a permit is a violation of the law – a Class C misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $2,000. San Antonio fire inspectors and police will be out on New Year’s Eve looking for violators. You can also report violators by calling the Fireworks Hotline at 210-207-0202. Leave the dazzling displays to the pros. See some colors burst at a local theme park or the New Year’s Eve celebration downtown for a safe holiday experience.

Western Watershed Sewer Relief Line Scope: Replace one mile of sewer main and install siphonCost: $ 5,374,273 Construction crews on the Southwest Side are hard at work right now on the Western Watershed Sewer Relief Line project. About one mile of sewer main is being replaced and a siphon system will also be installed.

This project is part of a massive effort to improve and increase capacity of the sewer collection system for Southwest San Antonio near New Laredo Highway and Quintana Road.

SAWS is urging residents to be on guard against individuals who may pose as utility or city workers to gain access to homes. When SAWS employees call on customers in the field, there are clear procedures they follow: •�All�SAWS�employees�

wear an ID badge with the employee’s photo and SAWS logo. •�Most�field�employees�

wear a blue uniform or shirt clearly marked with our logo. •�Most�SAWS�vehicles�are�

white with a SAWS logo on the doors.

•�SAWS�personnel�never�request�access�to your home unless you’ve specifically requested a SAWS employee to visit you, such as a water conservation

check-up. •�Water�testing�can�be�conducted�

at an outdoor faucet, if and when necessary. If the person at your

door claims to be a SAWS employee and you have any

doubt about their identity, please call 704-SAWS for verification. Of course, if you feel you’re in immediate danger, call 911.