Chrome air conditioning individuals whose daily routines have been turned upside down by unexpected plumbing issues. Sudden water leaks that cause serve as a stark reminder of how deeply our lives rely on the availability of clean, safe North Texas Water.
Empowering homeowners with a deeper understanding of their plumbing infrastructure and issues that may arise.
Being prepared enables them to handle plumbing crises effectively and take preventative measures to avoid issues before they arise.
The same principle holds for the plumbing network within a home, as well as the larger water infrastructure that serves the entire Dallas-Fort Worth area. The region’s water supply system, including North Texas Water, has been under scrutiny since the severe winter storm of 2021, making it an ideal time for homeowners to learn more about the origin of their water and take steps to preserve and conserve this essential resource.
This two-part series shines a spotlight on the Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD), a vital organization that has been serving the region for more than six decades. With a vast service area covering over 2 million residents, NTMWD provides essential services wastewater treatment, and waste management comprises 13 key cities, including Plano and Frisco, as well as numerous other municipalities that rely on NTMWD for these critical services.
Will cover the fundamentals of infrastructure and address common queries related to water supply systems.
In our upcoming article, a representative from the NTMWD will share their insights on key issues related to water management, conservation efforts, and the impact on the region’s lives.
Where Does Plano Water Come From?
DFW’s water supply primarily relies on man-made reservoirs created to collect and store surface water since Texas lacks natural lakes of substantial size. The NTMWD serves over 2 million people, and this number is projected to double by 2070, necessitating millions of gallons of treated water daily to sustain the current population of the Plano metroplex.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers built the initial reservoir for NTMWD in 1948, known as. Located east of Allen, Lavon Lake spans 21,000 acres and continues to serve as the main water Additional water sources have since been incorporated as well.
Apart from Lavon Lake, Chapman Lake, Lake Texoma, Lake Tawakoni, and the East Fork Water Reuse Project, NTMWD relies on Bois d’Arc Lake, a new addition located north of Bonham, to meet the increasing water demands of cities north of Dallas.
The water collected from various sources is pumped and transported through pipelines to one of six treatment facilities managed by NTMWD.
How Is Plano Water Treated?
Plano water undergoes treatment processes at the plants, where NTMWD employs various methods to purify the water and ensure its consumption.
Initially, the North Texas Water treatment process involves removing coarse impurities and suspended solids through sedimentation. Following this step, the water undergoes its first disinfection. A secondary disinfection process is implemented, where chloramines or chlorine are added to the water. This addition ensures the water remains disinfected as it flows through the distribution pipelines.
Following the disinfection process at the water treatment facility, small amounts of fluoride naturally found in the untreated water are augmented by introducing extra fluoride based on guidelines from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. to reduce the risk of tooth decay.
Ultimately, the water undergoes a last filtration step as it moves through carbon and sand filters to eliminate any minuscule particles that might still be present in the water.
To guarantee the safety and efficacy of this process, a massive number of water samples are collected annually by treatment facilities, Environmental Services, and municipalities rigorous testing to detect the presence of bacteria, suspended particles, water hardness, and alkalinity.
How Does The Water Get To You?
Once the water leaves NTMWD, it travels to cities and customers who buy it. These cities typically store the North Texas Water in large tanks distributed to elevated water towers.
Water towers serve a dual purpose, holding North Texas Water in reserve for future use and also storing the energy needed to supply water to the entire city. By allowing pumps to refill the towers during periods of low demand, they can be depleted during times of high demand, thereby maintaining a steady water pressure throughout the city.
By doing so, the requirement for large-scale water pumps capable of generating sufficient pressure to meet the city’s peak water needs during the day is eliminated. Instead, a network of water towers, pumping stations, and extensive pipelines work together to ensure a consistent and reliable water supply to every residence and commercial establishment throughout the city.
Water treatment pipe
This overview should provide a solid grasp of our local water system’s framework. Moving forward, in the next installment of this series, we’ll be joined by Helen Dulac, the Public Education Manager at NTMWD, who will shed light on how our everyday choices collectively impact the shared water infrastructure.