Some parts of Texas may pump oil, but around much of the state, water is quickly becoming the new liquid gold. In San Antonio, peak demand can exceed 200 million gallons per day, and in a region where resources are scarce, preserving the precious water supply and finding new resources are important jobs.

As Vice President of Communications and External Relations for the San Antonio Water System (SAWS), Greg Flores manages the delicate balance between public policy, education and action as he helps SAWS unite the city around its most basic need: water.

How did this San Antonio native get to SAWS from a career that spans statewide public service, Exxon oil and H-E-B groceries? It is very simple: his former career required him to seek local, state and federal advocacy, as well as to take an active role in shaping the laws of the land, which is one of Flores’ biggest passions. While land is a big issue, water is an even bigger issue in today’s world.

“Water is basic to life no matter how you look at it,” said Flores, “and to see our democratic system in action to regulate our water resources and preserve endangered species is exciting.”

Flores also considers education among life’s basics. During freshman orientation at his school of choice, he met Harvard University President Derrick Bok, who asked where he was from. When he answered that he was from San Antonio, Bok replied, “You’re going back, right?” The answer was a definite yes.

“I always knew I wanted to come back to put my education to good use here, and President Bok gave that notion some validation,” said Flores.

Though he never envisioned a career in public policy, Flores was always drawn to learning how people behave, grow and change. It was this broad-based approach to working with people that drew him to the Texas Commission for National Community Service, a conduit for federal AmeriCorps funding that is now known as the OneStar Foundation. There, Flores received the valuable chance to shape policies that will improve Texas communities. He was also inspired to continue his education by pursing a master’s degree in public policy from the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin.

Flores also received considerable inspiration at Exxon, which selected him for a summer internship. That summer, he developed an interest in corporate public affairs and jumped at the chance to influence how private and public sectors can contribute to public service. Governor Rick Perry recently reappointed Flores to the OneStar Board of Commissioners.

When H-E-B tapped Flores to direct community relations and eventually direct legislative affairs, he was glad to create H-E-B’s first role for an in-house lobbyist. While working for H-E-B, he got a close look at how laws are made.

H-E-B and SAWS may have different policies and focuses, but Flores says he made the change in work policy from H-E-B to SAWS with considerable ease.

“I went from selling 50,000 products to just one,” he said. “Really, it’s all about selling your product, and I wanted to be engaged full-time in that at the Legislature.”

Though Flores has plenty of experience, this self-described “policy wonk” is no cynic. In fact, he often catches himself referring to “challenges” as “opportunities.” For example, he sees the challenge of finding other water resources as an opportunity to be less reliant on the Edwards Aquifer.

Despite any reliance on the aquifer, SAWS has been nationally recognized and has received many national awards for its extraordinary success with water conservation. The agency was also selected as a finalist in a recent Harvard-sponsored competition for innovation in government programs. Because San Antonio’s water programs can be replicated in other cities, the Alamo City truly has the model system. This is something Flores thinks should be a source of pride for all.

The impressive numbers should also inspire South Texas pride. Largely due to San Antonio’s conservation efforts, the city pumped the same amount of water in 2006 as it did nearly 20 years ago in 1988 despite the fact that 300,000 additional people sap resources.

Aside from making water accessible to San Antonio residences, Flores also likes to consider the impact of the readily available water supply on the growing San Antonio economy. For example, Toyota brought some 2,000 jobs and millions of dollars to San Antonio, but Toyota also requires about one million gallons of water each day in order to operate efficiently. However, the good news is that “70 percent of what Toyota uses is recycled water, meaning they don’t have to pump out of the aquifer,” said Flores.

Then there’s what Flores calls “the engineering miracle” – the Aquifer Storage and Recovery facility. The facility is like a bank for water, and during the rare times when San Antonio has a water surplus, the city can store some water for later. Flores says that when the city gets particularly parched, as in the hot Texas summers, “we’re able to draw on the water stored to meet customer demands.”

Summer 2007, however, was far from parched. Although its sogginess brought the Edwards Aquifer to nearly a recordbreaking high, Flores is hardly resting on his laurels. He is still careful to not run the water longer than absolutely necessary when he brushes his teeth.

“Water issues are so complex in the state of Texas,” said Flores. “We have a wonderful resource in the Edwards Aquifer, but we also have to preserve it. As our community grows, we become more reliant upon water, and issues like health, public safety, quality of life and economic development come into play.”

When it comes to quality of life, Flores values the importance of striking a balance between his work and his family. Flores is particularly proud to watch his daughters, Arianna, 8, Catarina, 5, and Juliana, 2, grow and play under the supervision of his wife, Patricia Dávila. He ensures that he maintains a rewarding family life despite the demands of his job.

“Making the right work-life balance is hard,” said Flores, “but it’s so important (to me and Patricia), and it’s so worth it.”