Where San Antonio drought stands after floods
The big picture: San Antonio remains several years into its most intense drought in decades, which could still become what scientists call the drought of record.
How it works: The San Antonio Water System gets a little more than half of its supply from the Edwards Aquifer, the karst groundwater system. For the aquifer level to rise, rain must fall in the right place — the recharge zone, where features like caves and sinkholes allow water to seep into the aquifer.
The portion of the recharge zone most important to San Antonio stretches across northern Medina and Bexar counties — south of where the heavy rain fell over the July Fourth weekend.
What they're saying:"We got a bump of several feet," Karen Guz, vice president of conservation for SAWS, tells Axios. "We'll take it."
Zoom in: SAWS remains in Stage 3 drought restrictions, meaning landscape watering with a sprinkler or irrigation system is only allowed once a week during an assigned timeframe. Guz doesn't see that changing soon, despite a rainy spring.
Utility officials look to the 10-day rolling average of the aquifer level to ensure stability in whatever changes they make.
By the numbers: As of Friday, the 10-day rolling average was 636.9 feet above mean sea level.
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News24
a day ago
- News24
Sunday's weather: Partly cloudy to cool, with isolated showers in some parts
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News24
2 days ago
- News24
Saturday's weather: Foggy morning, thundershowers across SA but cool in Northern Cape
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News24
3 days ago
- News24
Friday's weather: Thundershowers for most regions; fine and warm conditions in 3 provinces
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