As the communities we serve grow, basic infrastructure must be in place to support the new businesses and residents moving in. A recent nationwide report listed two of our Member Cities as one of the three fastest-growing cities in the country. To meet those needs, NTMWD must expand water and wastewater systems and upgrade aging infrastructure.
Nationwide, there is significant public support for spending on water infrastructure. A poll conducted by the Value of Water Campaign and released last month showed 82% of Americans view rebuilding water systems as extremely or very important.
This year, NTMWD is investing $365 million in water infrastructure improvements and $160 million in wastewater infrastructure. Next year, the District plans to spend $700 million to address critical water and wastewater needs. Some of these projects involve upgrading aging pipes, pumps and treatment plants.
We are investing in the future with the proposed $1.2 billion Bois d’Arc Lake in Fannin County and the $150 million Trinity River Main Stem Pump Station and Pipeline. Both projects, along with continued conservation efforts, will be key to meeting long-term water needs in our 10-county region.
In addition to water supply projects, we are making significant investments in wastewater systems critical to meeting the needs of growing cities. Upgrade and expansion projects are underway at four wastewater plants: Rowlett Creek Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant (RWWTP) serving Plano and Richardson, Sabine Creek WWTP plant serving Royse City and Fate, Stewart Creek West WWTP plant serving Frisco, and Wilson Creek RWWTP plant serving all Collin County cities.
Rowlett Creek RWWTP is a great example of how NTMWD is expanding wastewater capabilities. When the District took over operations of the Rowlett Creek plant from Plano in 1972, the plant had a capacity of 2 million gallons per day (MGD). Currently, the Rowlett Creek plant averages 24 MGD with a peak capacity of 60 MGD. An expansion project will increase the plant’s peak flow capacity to 120 MGD over the next seven years.
The District is committed to providing the water and wastewater systems necessary for our growing service area. Want to learn more about our mission? Check out the video below running on American Airlines flights out of Dallas this summer and see how we provide #MoreThanWater to North Texas.