SAWS Customers Could See Water Bills Increase By About $19 Under Proposed Rate Increase
San Antonio Water System customers could soon see higher monthly water bills after the SAWS board unanimously approved a proposed gradual rate increase on Tuesday morning.
The proposal would raise rates for water supply, water delivery, wastewater and certain special service fees to support SAWS’ 2026 operating budget and long term infrastructure needs.
For the average customer, the increase would amount to roughly $15 to $20 over the next several years. Under the proposed plan, the average residential bill would rise from $56.68 in 2026 to $75.19 by 2029, an increase of about 32.7 percent.
Residents could see the first increase as early as July 1, but the proposal still needs approval from San Antonio City Council. Council members are expected to vote on the rate plan on June 11.
The proposal has already drawn opposition from District 7 Councilwoman Marina Alderete Gavito. In a local news op-ed, Gavito said the vote on SAWS’ proposed rate increase brings “both dread and frustration” as residents face another cost-of-living increase.
Gavito also pointed to concerns over SAWS leadership, including SAWS President and CEO Robert Puente’s recent $132,000 bonus. “When families are struggling to make ends meet while facing a sharp increase in their water bills, a payout to the top executive feels like a slap in the face,” Gavito wrote.
SAWS Vice President of Customer Experience and Strategic Initiatives Cecilia Velasquez said the utility would begin seeing additional revenue from the rate increase in August if the proposal is approved.
Mayor Jones Calls Plan ‘The Cheapest Option’
Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones, who also serves as a SAWS board member, said the rate increase is needed to support public health, public safety and essential water system facilities.
“While this is a rate increase of, as you mentioned, less than about $4.60 each year for 4 years, it is, in fact, the cheapest option to ensure we have the facilities that we need in the interest of public safety and public health,” Jones said before the board’s vote.
At an April 7 meeting, Velasquez said the average resident’s bill would increase by $4.47 in 2026.
Final Decision Now Goes To City Council
The SAWS board’s approval does not make the rate increase final. The proposal now moves to San Antonio City Council, where members will decide whether the utility can move forward with the gradual increase.
If approved, the new rates would help fund SAWS’ operating budget, infrastructure upgrades and service needs as the utility works to maintain water delivery and wastewater systems across San Antonio.
