San Antonio Water System (SAWS)
Non-Revenue Water Program Upgrade

Webinar Summary

The San Antonio Water System (SAWS) faces challenges with non-revenue water (NRW), similarly to many other utilities across the nation. NRW is treated water not sold to customers because of main breaks, leaks, metering limitations, and other losses. The San Antonio metropolitan area, with a population near 2.5 million, is located along a boundary between a semi-arid area to the west and a much wetter and more humid area to the east. This results in large variations in monthly and annual precipitation year-on-year. Periods of drought cause increases in NRW from increased line breaks and leaks due to expansive soils and aging infrastructure. Severe drought conditions persist currently in the San Antonio area, so current NRW losses are elevated. There are other important aspects including numerous water input points, system pressure variables, and rapid population growth within the service area.

Recognizing the need to increase the effectiveness of the existing NRW Program, SAWS is implementing numerous impactful enhancements. One component of those enhancements is to further align multiple business units across SAWS to optimize collaboration, improve data accuracy, consistently use best practices, and optimize coordinated implementation of cost-effective interventions.

To kick off the upgraded NRW Program, SAWS partnered with Hunter Nolen Consulting, LLC (HNC) to conduct a Program Chartering Session using HNC’s Stakeholder Teaming & Execution Planning (STEP) process. STEP is an intensive and independently facilitated workshop designed to: 1) accomplish alignment and commitment across stakeholder organizations; 2) capture high-value technical and management input from stakeholder representatives; and 3) create a written “blueprint” for achieving Program implementation success.

This presentation will discuss the SAWS NRW Program background and characteristics, as well as the STEP Chartering Session method and outcome.

Webinar Speakers

Richard Donat began his career at San Antonio Water System in 2010 on the Brackish Groundwater Desalination program. He then advanced to overseeing the Project Controls group managing Scope, Schedule, and Budgets for the Engineering and Construction Teams. Currently, he is the Director of Non-Revenue Water focused on implementation of a Program to reduce water loss.

He holds a bachelor’s in Geology from the University of Arkansas, an M.S. in Geology from the University of Tennessee, and an MBA from the University of Texas at San Antonio.

Jeff Haby has been at SAWS since 1997 and is currently responsible for Water Production, Non-Revenue Water Program and the SSO Consent Decree. During his 27-year career at SAWS Haby has supported and managed engineering’s replacements and improvements, infrastructure planning, wastewater treatment, recycled water, chilled water, lift stations, electrical maintenance, instrumentation & controls maintenance, and predictive maintenance.

Haby is a graduate of Texas A&M University with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering, Haby is a registered Professional Engineer in Texas and Missouri. He holds an “A” Water Operator license in Texas and is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, American Water Works Association, Board member of the Water Environment Association of Texas and Board Member of South Texas Underground Construction Technology Association.

Hunter Nolen provides management consulting services under Hunter Nolen Consulting, LLC. He has 40 years of experience in engineering consulting and business management. He is a registered professional civil engineer, board-certified environmental engineer, and past President of the American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists. He served in President-level positions for CDM Smith, Amec Foster Wheeler, and the Wood Group before founding Hunter Nolen Consulting in 2022. He is a graduate of the UT Austin McCombs School of Business Executive Management Program, has an MS in Environmental Engineering from Montana State University, and a BS in Aquatic Biology from the University of Texas at Austin.

Hunter developed the Stakeholder Teaming and Executing Planning (STEP) process for achieving stakeholder alignment and effective implementation planning for complex technical and operational challenges.

Webinar Format

This webinar will include a moderated Q and A session following the speaker’s presentation. The session is open to environmental engineering and science professionals across all sectors and career stages. Our objective is to offer special insights on leading edge solutions for graduate and undergraduate students as well as early to mid-career environmental professionals who are considering specialty certification.

AAEES Board Certified Individuals: Attend this event and earn 1.5 PDHs towards your PDH requirements for maintaining your specialty certification.

Click here to register for this event.