During its Jan. 30 meeting, San Antonio City Council approved a memorandum of understanding with San Antonio Water System to coordinate and manage the 2022-27 bond program projects throughout the city.

The overview

According to city documents, the non-binding agreement outlines a working relationship by defining set roles and responsibilities on bond-related projects. The agreement is effective for a five year-period, unless the city and SAWS agree to end the contract.

MOU guiding principles:
  • Categorization of projects as normal or high risk based on the age and complexity of the project
  • SAWS shall be responsible for the verification or cost of verifying current underground utilities including “potholing” to accurately identify locations
  • SAWS will be a joint signatory with the city for design and construction contracts
  • Establish a formalized dispute resolution process to resolve any project related issues quickly


A project will be categorized as high risk if:
  • Either SAWS or the city determines that the project presents significant design, engineering or construction challenges
  • There is a high likelihood of encountering historical artifacts
  • There is a high likelihood of encountering conflicts with unrecorded underground water, sewage or stormwater-related utilities due to the age of infrastructure
  • The project is located downtown, in an original historic area, in or along congested corridors, in a sensitive business district
  • The project is critical to or otherwise disrupts a high-profile project or event, such as the Hemisfair redevelopment or the NCAA Final Four
  • The project is critical to State or Federal considerations, such as emergency evacuation routes or transportation of military vehicles
Additionally, the MOU will help reduce project costs, minimize roadway closures and reduce disruptions for businesses and the community.


The backstory

According to city documents, the city and SAWS have historically collaborated to align public works bond projects with SAWS capital infrastructure projects. At the beginning of each five-year bond cycle, city officials review previous MOUs with SAWS, which allows the city to update the agreement based on lessons learned in the previous cycle.

Review of these agreements helps both the city and SAWS to work in a cost-effective manner on large-scale projects that benefit San Antonio residents and SAWS customers.