SAWS considers changing data center regulations, adding new fees
The San Antonio Water System is considering new fees and policy changes for high-volume recycled-water users, including data centers, to help fund expansion of its purple-pipe network. The proposals could require new connections to pay expansion costs, allow SAWS to limit large recycled-water requests and require data centers to provide backup water storage or pretreat wastewater.
The San Antonio Water System is developing policy changes aimed at making new data centers help finance improvements to the city’s recycled-water system. SAWS is considering impact fees for new high-volume users, interim fee agreements, and changes to utility rules that could allow it to deny unusually large recycled-water requests or require customers to arrange their own backup supplies.
SAWS officials said data centers currently account for a small share of the utility’s potable and recycled-water use, but pending projects could substantially increase their share of recycled-water demand. The utility also is considering classifying data centers as significant industrial users, potentially requiring additional wastewater pretreatment. The proposals follow the San Antonio City Council’s recent vote requiring new data centers within city jurisdiction to obtain special-use permits, while SAWS officials said they want to regulate growth without driving facilities toward neighboring areas that rely more heavily on potable water from the Edwards Aquifer.