SAN ANTONIO \u2013 On Wednesday, City Council will discuss a familiar-looking, multi-year proposal from the San Antonio Water System to raise water rates.<\/p>\n
Councilmembers will review a revised proposal, which is a similar, delayed version of the one they considered three months ago. Under the new plan, rates could bump an average monthly bill by roughly $13 to $17 by 2030.<\/p>\n
Instead of raising rates in July under the initial proposal, residential rates would go up 6.9% in January 2027 and be raised again by 6.5% in 2028, between 4.5% and 7% in 2029, and between 4% and 6.6% in 2030.<\/p>\n
The range of rates in the latter two years of increases dips slightly lower than what was presented in June, 4.5% and 4% instead of 5.5% and 5%.<\/p>\n
A livestream of the meeting will be available in this article at 2 p.m. Delays are possible; if no livestream is available, check back at a later time.<\/p>\n
Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones said she supports a potential SAWS rate increase, citing the need to replace aging infrastructure and protect the city\u2019s drinking water.<\/p>\n
During KSAT Q&A on the 6 p.m. newscast, Jones said SAWS needs additional money for major upgrades, including work on pipes that are more than 100 years old.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it is an appropriate time for us to invest in the infrastructure,\u201d Jones said. \u201cIt will require a rate increase. The SAWS team has worked very hard to make sure that it\u2019s as small as it can be. But at the end of the day, some of these projects are over $200 million.\u201d<\/p>\n
SAWS officials have said the money would help fund critical infrastructure projects as the utility works to maintain reliable service and keep drinking water clean.<\/p>\n