San Antonio Tenants Left Dry as SAWS Cuts Water Over Landlord Debts

San Antonio Tenants Left Dry as SAWS Cuts Water Over Landlord Debts

Widespread Impact on Apartment Residents

In San Antonio, recent actions by the San Antonio Water System (SAWS) have left many tenants without access to water, as water services were disconnected at several apartment complexes due to outstanding debts owed by landlords. This decision has sparked outrage among affected residents and city officials alike, raising serious concerns about the implications for those not directly responsible for the unpaid bills.

Shocking Notifications and Responses

According to records obtained, tenants at multiple properties, including the Roselawn Apartments, were left with little warning about the disconnections. Residents reported being notified less than 24 hours before their water was scheduled to be turned off, prompting frantic last-minute preparations to gather water before the shutoff.
Tenant Rosemary Garcia noted the intense stress as she navigated the situation, saying, “We just want to live normally. It’s hard when you don’t have basic necessities.”

SAWS Stands Firm on Policy

SAWS officials defended their actions by pointing to the substantial debts accumulating from certain landlords, with one reportedly owing over $240,000 across 350 units. SAWS spokesperson Anne Hayden stated, “The vast majority of our customers pay on time, take care of their debt. However, these commercial customers were building up hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt, and unfortunately, that’s not fair to the rest of our customers.”

City Council Responds

This controversial decision prompted a heated response from city council members, who are now questioning the fairness of such actions against innocent tenants. Councilman Jalen McKee Rodriguez expressed concern over the significant impact these disconnections had on residents, stating, “It sounds like you believe that because you achieved the ends you sought, the means—terrifying my constituents—were justified.”

Concerns Over Safety and Future Disconnections

City staff attempted to intervene just hours before the scheduled disconnections, citing forecasts of severe weather that could complicate residents’ living conditions. Despite this, SAWS remained resolute in their approach, indicating that similar disconnections could occur in the future, especially during extreme weather conditions. Unlike CPS Energy, which halts disconnections during dangerous weather advisories, SAWS has yet to establish such a policy.

Potential Policy Changes on the Horizon

In response to the outcry, Councilman Rodriguez and Councilwoman Marina Alderete-Gavito are advocating for changes in how SAWS addresses water shutoffs for properties where landlords fail to pay. Although any switch in policy could take months, their initiative aims to prevent tenants from suffering undue hardship in the future.

Conclusion

The situation highlights the broader issues of tenant rights and utility access, a critical concern in residential areas across San Antonio. As the city navigates the fallout from this incident, both residents and officials are calling for a more humane and just approach to utility disconnections.