Frequently Asked Questions

A monofil is a site designated and limited to the disposal of one specific type of byproduct. The NTMWD Water Treatment Residuals Monofill (Monofill) will be used to dispose of water treatment residuals (WTR) from the District's water treatment process for producing drinking water.

The majority of the water treated at our Wylie Water Treatment Plant (WTP) comes from Lavon Lake. As one of the first steps in our treatment process to produce drinking water, particles such as silt and clay are removed using an iron coagulant to settle the particles in basins for collection. This sediment, settled particles, or WTR are then removed and dried for application to agricultural fields. The high iron content enhances plant health.

These WTR are considered safe and are currently beneficially land-applied for growing certain crops. The Monofill will be constructed with a protective, impervious liner to minimize seepage to protect the environment.

Testing occurs to determine nutrient components.

The facility will be designed to integrate into neighboring areas by using visual barriers such as green spaces, screening, tree plantings, and/or natural vegetation. The site will include a temporary WTR storage area, dewatering equipment housed inside a building, some heavy equipment, and the monofill disposal area.

Initially, after construction and operations begin, berms will be constructed from the excavation which could create some visual barriers. Over time, as the continued impoundment of WTR begins to accumulate, it will look like a mounded earthen area or a gently sloping hill. It is the District's intention that the dewatering facility be designed and constructed to have an appearance similar to local farming operations.

The site will have at least a 50-foot buffer with a fence near the perimeter of the property and public access to the site will be restricted by the fence and locked gate, as well as sign postings.

The odor of WTR is mild or earthy and similar to that of lake water. Since the odor is similar to existing lake water, we do not anticipate any odor concerns. However, if any odor issues arise, we would use proven technologies to address the odor.

Berms, stormwater channels, and stormwater ponds will be constructed to control stormwater runoff, and there will be a clay liner/impervious layer under the Monofill to prevent leaching.

NTMWD is looking to build and operate this Monofill to free up space on the Wylie Water Treatment Plant site for future expansion and other uses.

Currently, the WTRs are stored in lagoons at the Wylie WTP and periodically dried and removed for application across Collin County-area agricultural fields. A consolidated site would be more efficient for the disposal, storage, and possible future use of these WTRs.

The current plan is to send WTR to the site through a pipeline which will result in little to minimal additional traffic on nearby roads. With the pipeline, we do not anticipate any additional truck traffic associated with hauling WTR to the site.

If there is no pipeline constructed, the District would use trucks to transport WTR to the Monofill. Based on current volumes, we estimate there could be up to 50 trucks per day on average.

The current plan is as follows:

• TCEQ permitting process:  2021 – 2024
• Facility/site design:  2026 – 2030
• Construction:  2036 – 2040
• Site operational:  2040

Our goal is to be a good neighbor to those in and around the Monofill and the city of Josephine. You can email Jerry Allen, NTMWD Permitting Manager, or call 469-626-4634. You can also email NTMWD Project or NTMWD Public Relations.

Once the Monofill is operational, there will be staff onsite and contact information will be provided on our website.