NTMWD is a state leader in water reuse and the Trinity River Main Stem Pump Station and Pipeline project allowed us to expand our water reuse supplies. The $120 million project was completed in June 2020, and allows up to 100 million gallons per day (MGD) of water from the Trinity River to be diverted to the East Fork Reuse Project, more commonly known as the “wetlands.”

The wetlands uses natural filtration to further cleanse the raw water. As the water passes through 1,840 acres of wetlands, the aquatic plants and sunlight help filter the water through a natural process that removes about 95 percent of the sediment, 80 percent of the nitrogen and 65 percent of the phosphorus. The cleansed water from the wetlands is then piped 40 miles through an existing pipeline to the north end of Lavon Lake and blended with our other raw water sources.

In 2020, the American Public Works Association Texas Chapter honored the Trinity River Main Stem Pump Station and Pipeline as its Project of the Year.

By the Numbers

Pump Station

• 13-acre site
• Two 48-inch diameter pipes will divert water from the Trinity River into the pump station
• 4 pumps, 1500 horsepower each
• 100 million gallons per day (MGD) capacity
• Adding two new 3500-horsepower pumps to the existing Conveyance Pump Station to pipe water from the wetland near Seagoville north to Lavon Lake

Pipeline

• Nearly 17 miles of 72-inch diameter pipeline
  • 2100 pieces of pipe (primarily 50 feet in length)
  • Mortar-lined, spiral-welded steel pipe
  • Over 60 air-release and blow-off valves
  • Pipe manufactured by two north Texas companies:
    • Northwest Pipe (Saginaw)
    • Forterra Pressure Pipe (Grand Prairie)
  • Most of pipeline installed with 5 feet average cover
• 13 tunnels under roads or waterways
  • Longest tunnel (600 feet) crosses under road and levee close to new pump station
  • Second longest tunnel (570 feet) under Hwy 175
  • Tunnel under Trinity River (305 ft)