What We Do: Special Projects

Espada Sewer Connect Program

Thousands of tourists each year flock to the historic missions of San Antonio, yet few who make the trip will notice the housing conditions of those who live in the shadow of these popular tourist attractions – or see the outhouses and cesspools that service these areas. an outhouse

In July 2001, the San Antonio Metropolitan Health Department Environmental Health Division inspectors visited these properties and determined that unsanitary environmental conditions existed. Residents are using cesspools, leaking septic tanks, and outhouses for sewage disposal. The city health department declared 36 residences to be an immediate health risk. The aquifer below was also at risk of contamination from the sewage pumped in the septic tanks and cesspools. In addition to the risk to the immediate community, the potential for outbreaks of diseases such as hantavirus and dengue fever posed a health risk for the entire city.

In 2001, Los Vecinos de las Misiones and Merced Housing Texas collaborated to connect 17 homes in the Mission Espada neighborhood to existing sewer mains. However, the mains did not extend to the entire neighborhood at that time. The San Antonio Water System (SAWS) committed to extending sewer mains to the rest of the mission neighborhood, and construction of the mains began in July 2005.

SAWS identified 117 addresses that had no sewer service in the area. The home owners were required to pay for lateral connections to the sewer mains. According to the 2000 Census, the median household income for the area is only $24,761. Many residents cannot begin to afford the construction costs for the lateral connections.

Through the Espada Sewer Connect Program, Merced will collaborate with Los Vecinos de las Misiones, SAWS, and the City of San Antonio (COSA) to provide lateral connections to the sewer mains for approximately 20 low-income families. The role of COSA is to make preliminary assessments and to accept applications and qualify recipients. The role of SAWS is to plan and construct the sewer mains, including obtaining right of way from property owners. Merced will serve as the construction manager, provide resource development assistance, and administer grant funds. Los Vecinos will serve as an advocate for the program and a liaison between the community members and participating entities.

Merced and Los Vecinos have raised approximately $182,000 for the lateral connections from The Meadows Foundation, the Goldsbury Foundation, USAA-FSB, Wells Fargo Bank Texas, and the City of San Antonio. Merced has raised $150,000 from the San Antonio Housing Trust Foundation for rehabilitation to homes that are in such disrepair that their plumbing systems cannot be connected to the laterals. SAWS has approved a budget and hired KGME Civil Construction, Inc., to install the new sewer mains in the Mission Espada neighborhood.