The San Antonio Water System says it's going to be laser focused on reducing leaks and water main breaks. At a board meeting Tuesday, it outlined a $550 million
The San Antonio Water System says it's going to be laser focused on reducing leaks and water main breaks . At a board meeting Tuesday, it outlined a $550 million effort to replace older pipes. SAWS ' most recent water loss report filed with the state showed it lost 21 billion gallons of water last year, which was 23.
4 percent of all the water in its system.Our investigation showed some of the thousands of water main breaks SAWS repairs each year involve cement pipe containing asbestos. First installed decades ago, SAWS says the pipes are safe to carry drinking water, but because of their age, they're being targeted for replacement. “That pipe, we're going to replace, a lot of it with better pipe, different pipe that performs better over time," said Jeff Haby, who has been put in charge of the project.SAWS doesn't believe the asbestos-cement pipes pose a health risk, while some experts have voiced concerns. “We know that the consumption of asbestos, such as drinking asbestos fibers that have come through asbestos pipes, increases one's risk for developing certain kinds of cancers," Drexel University Professor Arthur Frank told News 4.It was Haby who briefed SAWS board members on how his staff intends to reduce water loss from leaks and breaks. He said the water loss figure for 2023 was “Unacceptable, and we discussed that in executive management team meetings and we know we have to do better." The plan includes hiring 39 new workers and reorganizing crews to replace pipe while responding faster to repair breaks. "It's time to have a different level of engagement on this issue," said SAWS Board Chairwoman Jelynne LeBlanc Jamison. The SAWS board will hear more details at a special work session later this month and will likely vote on the plan in October.
SAWS Water Main Breaks Replacement Leaks High Density Polyethylene Pipes Water Loss Health Risks
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