Leak relief and household assistance

A high water bill may have a path to review

Hidden plumbing failures can produce an alarming bill before the problem is visible. This guide separates what San Antonio Water System (SAWS) publicly describes from the practical steps every customer can take while requesting help.

Provider-specific review

What the public record says about a leak adjustment

A customer may request a SAWS leak adjustment after a qualifying property leak has been repaired. Eligible examples include faucets, toilets, shower heads, broken pipes in a wall, foundation, or yard, irrigation-system breaks or failed nozzles, pressure-reducing valves, flexible supply lines, water heaters or softeners, and swimming-pool supply or structural leaks. The request must be submitted within 60 days of repair. SAWS accepts a licensed-plumber receipt, receipts for plumbing supplies used by the customer, or a detailed description of the repair; the documents verify that the repair occurred and do not reimburse the plumbing cost. SAWS reviews whether usage decreased or returned to normal and adjusts only a portion of leak-related usage, generally for up to two months, with an adjustment normally available once every 12 months. Review may take up to 30 days, and a confirmation page says SAWS may monitor usage for approximately 60–90 days. While the request is reviewed, the account is placed on hold to prevent late penalties and nonpayment disconnection, but the customer should continue paying at least the pre-leak average because the credit is only partial and SAWS has no legal obligation to grant it.

Stop the loss

Shut off the failing fixture or supply and arrange a qualified repair.

Keep proof

Save dated invoices, parts receipts, photographs, and meter readings.

Request review

Submit the request promptly and keep paying any undisputed amount.

Utility assistance

Customer assistance and eligibility

SAWS Uplift is an income-based program with one application providing access to 14 affordability initiatives. Published benefits include a discounted structure with no monthly charges for the first 2,000 gallons, a Courtesy Hold while an application is processed, payment arrangements, agency referrals, leak adjustments, a Senior Citizen Billing benefit that waives late-payment penalties for eligible customers age 60 and older, and a Reduced Deposit benefit lowering the new-customer deposit from $100 to $50. Domestic-violence deposit waivers are available with eligibility documentation. Project Agua can provide emergency payment assistance up to two times a year when the customer provides current-income proof, has a final-notice account, and has paid at least $60 toward arrears during the prior nine months, excluding prior Project Agua assistance. Eligibility includes residential account status, income requirements, an application, and a home-value limit of $300,000; exact award caps depend on the applicable Uplift initiative and current funding.

State and federal connections

Where to ask for broader aid

SAWS directs customers to its Uplift application at https://uplift.saws.org/ and to 210-233-CARE (2273). Uplift includes Project Agua and referrals to local partners including CPS Energy, the San Antonio Food Bank, the San Antonio Department of Human Services, and other agencies. The current SAWS pages reviewed describe local utility assistance and agency referrals but do not identify a standing 2026 LIHWAP or other federal water-assistance intake workflow, a federal application URL, or a guaranteed state-funded pass-through benefit; those details are not publicly stated unless SAWS or the responsible Texas agency confirms them.

Research status for this provider

4 of 4 relief signals publicly identified

Verify with official provider ↗

Emergency route

Published detail

Leak policy

Published detail

Utility aid

Published detail

State/federal aid

Published detail

Leak and assistance notes

Build the file before asking San Antonio Water System (SAWS) for relief

A high bill can have several causes, including a hidden plumbing failure, irrigation use, a meter issue, a change in occupancy, or a rate adjustment. The provider’s leak policy determines whether any credit is available; an unusually high bill does not automatically qualify.

Keep a dated record of the reading, the suspected source, the repair, the contractor or parts receipt, and the return to normal use. Ask whether the utility requires a specific form, a licensed repair, a meter test, photos, or a request within a fixed number of days.

For income-related difficulty, ask about local assistance, payment arrangements, state programs, and community referrals separately from a leak adjustment. These programs often use different applications, documents, funding limits, and deadlines.

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