About the Oaks Water Supply Corporation

Residential Water Service

Residential water service within the Scenic Oaks and Country Estates subdivisions is provided by The Oaks Water Supply Corporation (TOWSC). TOWSC is a not-for-profit, member-owned co-op. The major requirements for membership are property ownership and responsibility for payment of water services to the property owned. Homebuilders, developers, and lienholders are not eligible for membership.

Formation and History

The original owner of the water system was Scenic Oaks Water Supply Corp. (SOWSC), a for-profit corporation. SOWSC was placed in Chapter 11 bankruptcy, which was later converted to a Chapter 7 liquidation. TOWSC was formed to bid on SOWSC's assets in a court-supervised auction. TOWSC and two other entities submitted bids, and TOWSC was the successful bidder.

Management and Meetings

TOWSC is managed by a board of directors elected by the membership. The board consists of five directors who serve without compensation. The board meets monthly, typically on the third Tuesday of each month, at 6:00 p.m. Meetings are held at the TOWSC office located at 26058 Hazy Hollow Dr., just inside the Scenic Oaks security gate. All members are welcome at these meetings. An annual meeting of the membership is held on the fourth Monday of March, where directors are elected, and other issues are voted on by members.

System Improvements and Operations

Since acquiring the corporation, we have made numerous additions and improvements to the system and continue to do so. The system is currently supported by four pumping/storage stations and eight groundwater wells, which pump water from the Cow Creek formation of the Trinity aquifer. One significant improvement is the installation of facilities to purchase and utilize water from the San Antonio Water System (SAWS). This supplemental supply helps eliminate severe rationing during drought conditions.

Contract and In-House Operations

From October 1993 to August 2006, a contractor was employed to operate the water system, providing daily maintenance and service as needed. The contractor was responsible for reading meters, billing customers, and responding to customer inquiries and complaints. The contractor was K M Utility Management and its successor company, Haskins One Pump, Ltd.
Effective September 1, 2006, the board hired our own staff to operate the water company. Our staff is now responsible for all company operations and limited maintenance. Maintenance beyond the staff's capability continues to be contracted out. Additionally, we have constructed an office facility within the Scenic Oaks neighborhood, which is manned from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

Rainfall and Water Restrictions

The Scenic Oaks and Country Estates subdivisions are located in an area that normally receives limited rainfall during the summer months and sometimes during the rest of the year. The large lots around our homes require heavy irrigation. Limited rainfall can reduce the water level in the aquifer, affecting the output of our wells, a situation beyond our control. When levels drop too much, water use restrictions are imposed. However, with our supplemental water supply from the San Antonio Water System, we do not have to base restriction decisions solely on well levels, although we still follow SAWS water use restrictions, which are less restrictive than those we would have to impose if we depended solely on our wells.