This time of year, aquifer levels move down quickly because
agricultural pumpers are irrigating their crops at full speed.
Despite the heavy irrigation, we can expect to stay in Stage II
for the month if we get a few rains. If it is completely dry for
the month, we may fall to Stage III. In the prime corn-
irrigating period, March until about July 4, agricultural
pumpers use about three times as much water every day as the
whole city of San Antonio does. When the farmers harvest their
corn crop in early July, San Antonio becomes the primary pumper
from the Edwards Aquifer. At that time, levels of the Edwards
Aquifer are dependent on rainfall episodes and how San Antonio
manages its water resources. If we adhere to the restrictions
that are in place and use some of our reserve supplies from the
Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) reservoir, we may be able to
keep aquifer levels from falling too severely. Our experiences
in 2009 and 2011 show the power of SAWS water management to
maintain aquifer levels Aquifer l