Winter Water Wisdom: Our Family’s Story of Saving Water and Money

by Antonio T. Ramsey

When people ask me about water conservation in San Antonio, most conversations start with summer watering issues—when the heat is relentless, lawns dry out, and sprinklers run almost nonstop. However, conservation during the winter months is equally important. Why? Because of something called “winter averaging,” a process the San Antonio Water System (SAWS) uses to determine your sewer bill for the entire next year.

 Learning About Winter Averaging

When I discuss winter averaging, most people do not realize that the amount of water your household uses in December could impact your August bill. How can that be, you may ask? Winter averaging is the process SAWS uses to estimate your sewer charges by averaging your usage from roughly mid-November through mid-March to set your charge for the next 12 months. By underrating this, my family has changed the way we look at our water use year-round.

In San Antonio, our sewer bills aren’t based on what goes directly down the drain every month. Instead, SAWS looks at winter water use because, during the cooler months, we don’t water our lawns much, or we shouldn’t be. That means most of the water we use is indoor—through sinks, showers, dishwashers, and laundry—and eventually ends up in the sewer system.

Which means, every gallon we save in the winter helps lower our bill all year long.

 How We Handle Water in Our Household

Over time, my family has built some simple habits that keep our winter water usage down while also caring for God’s creation:

• We let the grass rest. Our lawn naturally goes dormant in winter, and we don’t fight it. The grass might look a little brown, but it always comes back in spring. Instead of keeping it green with constant watering, we let nature take its course.
• We only water plants if it’s truly needed. If there’s been a long dry spell, we’ll water the flowerbeds or trees—but only as much as necessary. Otherwise, we trust the winter rains to do the work.
• We monitor our water with the SAWS My Account app. This app has been one of the most helpful tools for us. It lets us track our daily usage so we can catch patterns before they become problems. In addition, SAWS can notify you if of continuous water use, which could signal a leak. That kind of early warning can save hundreds of gallons and protect your winter average.
• We fix leaks quickly and contact SAWS. A dripping faucet or running toilet can throw off your water usage in a hurry. When we’ve had leaks, we’ve made sure to repair them quickly—and here’s the part many don’t know: you can contact SAWS once it’s fixed. They will not only consider a bill adjustment but can also ensure your winter average isn’t inflated by water that was lost to a leak and not aligned with your normal usage.

These practices don’t just save money—they remind us that stewardship is about making choices that benefit both our household and our community.

Why This Matters for Everyone

I often think of winter conservation as a “hidden opportunity.” Many families in San Antonio still run their sprinklers once or twice a week in December or January. SAWS actually warns that doing so is a costly mistake—because that extra water use gets locked into your sewer average for an entire year.

But by cutting back, we’ve seen the opposite effect. Lower water use in the winter translates to lower sewer charges each month. Over a year’s time, those savings really add up.

 A Bigger Calling: Stewardship of Creation

Beyond the bills, there’s another layer. As Christians, we are called to be stewards of God’s creation. In San Antonio, our water supply comes mainly from the Edwards Aquifer, a resource that is both precious and limited. Conserving water in the winter isn’t just a financial strategy—it’s a way to honor the gift of creation, ensuring that water is available for our neighbors, for wildlife, and for future generations.

Every gallon saved means less strain on our city’s infrastructure and less impact on the aquifer. For me, that’s a faith practice: to live gratefully and responsibly with the resources God has entrusted to us.

Practical Tips You Can Try

If you’re wondering how to start, here are a few lessons we’ve learned:

• Shut off automatic sprinklers by mid-November. Don’t let them quietly run all winter.
• Download the SAWS My Account app to track daily usage and get alerts.
• Fix leaks right away—and call SAWS afterward for a possible adjustment.
• Run full loads of laundry and dishes only.
• Shorten showers by a minute or two. Small changes add up.

Closing Thought

This winter, I encourage you to think differently about water. While it may be tempting to keep lawns green or ignore small drips, remember that these choices affect not only your budget but also our shared responsibility as a community of faith.

For our family, the shift has been simple: let the grass sleep, water only when it’s truly needed, watch our usage through the SAWS app, and fix leaks fast. In return, we’ve seen lower bills, a greater awareness of our impact, and a deeper sense of stewardship.