Rate increases fund projects to improve water access
and delivery, upgrade treatment facilities,
and expand wastewater plants

Wylie, Texas --  The North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD) announced completion of several key projects necessary to continue providing reliable water and wastewater services to the growing region.  The projects, which total nearly $140 million, are funded through bond sales that are repaid by member and customer cities through rates. 

Projects completed the past few months will provide greater access to a key NTMWD raw water supply, replace older water pipelines, improve the capacity and disinfection processes at water treatment facilities, and increase reliability at a regional wastewater plant. 

“These critical projects help maintain, upgrade and expand our infrastructure to support reliable service for current residents and continued population growth in the north Texas region,” said Tom Kula, executive director of NTMWD. “We must take care of today’s needs while keeping an eye on the future.”

One of the key projects was dredging near two water intake structures at Lavon Lake, a primary water source for NTMWD.  The removal of naturally accumulated silt from the intake channels on the lake bottom will provide greater access to an additional 20 percent of stored water during low lake level conditions. 

Other recently completed projects include upgrades and technology improvements to water treatment facilities in Wylie, replacement water supply lines due to construction to widen Stacy Road in Allen, and electrical improvements at the NTMWD regional wastewater plant in Mesquite to increase reliability. 

For the NTMWD regional water system alone, there are more than $192 million in current projects underway to address aging infrastructure, comply with increasing regulations and expand the capacity of existing systems. 

Crews prepare for installation of new 78-inch isolation valve at the NTMWD Water Treatment Plant in Wylie. This valve and associated piping will control up to 168 million gallons per day of drinking water to serve primarily the cities of Plano and McKinney.

Additionally, the NTMWD has a number of major water and wastewater projects slated for construction in 2016, including: 

·       The Trinity River Main Stem Pump Station to maximize indirect water reuse supplies;

·       The proposed Lower Bois d’Arc Creek Reservoir in Fannin County;

·       Expansions at Stewart Creek West and Wilson Creek Regional Wastewater Treatment Plants; and

·       Improvements to the regional wastewater collection system.

“We’ve always focused on providing essential services at the lowest cost possible, however utilities nationwide are dealing with increasing challenges,” Kula added. “Investing in our infrastructure is critical to maintain reliable service, comply with regulations, and support our growing cities.”

Crews prepare to install a 78-inch isolation valve at the NTMWD Water Treatment Plant in Wylie. Representing merely a part of the elaborate network of piping that directs and distributes treated drinking water from the 770 million-gallon-per-day plant, this valve will control up to 168 million gallons per day to serve primarily parts of Plano and McKinney.

Key facts about the NTMWD regional water and wastewater systems: 

NTMWD Regional Water System

·       370 MGD average raw water supply

·       6 water treatment plants – 806+ MGD capacity

·       566 miles of transmission pipelines

·       9 raw water pump stations

·       8 treated water pump stations

·       77 City delivery points 

NTMWD Regional Wastewater System

·       Operate 17 wastewater treatment plants – (11 owned by NTMWD, including 4 regional plants)

·       151+ MGD treatment capacity

·       8 interceptor systems with 250+ miles of large-diameter pipelines and 23 lift stations 

For more information about NTMWD operations, projects and other news, visit www.ntmwd.com.