Texas lawmaker Sam Rayburn speaks during the opening day ceremony for the North Texas Municipal Water District's water treatment facility in Wylie on Nov. 8, 1956.[/caption]

The North Texas Municipal Water District is hosting open house tours today, Nov. 4, at its Wylie treatment facility for local officials and other dignitaries to help mark its 60th anniversary of water delivery. Located adjacent to Lavon Lake, the water treatment plant began its operations on Nov. 8, 1956 and has grown from providing 20 million gallons of water per day to 770 MGD to support the growing region's needs.

"Water is the essential foundation allowing our communities to thrive," NTMWD Executive Director Tom Kula said in a news release. "And our first water treatment plant has been a workhorse since the beginning."

The NTMWD was formed in the early 1950s during one of the worst droughts in Texas history. Leaders from 10 cities—Farmersville, Forney, Garland, McKinney, Mesquite, Plano, Princeton, Rockwall, Royse City and Wylie—formed the district and built the necessary infrastructure to treat and transport water from the lake. Today, the NTMWD serves 13 member cities including Frisco and Allen and supplies water to more than 1.6 million residents across 10 counties. That population is expected to double over the next 50 years, according to the district.

The district has extended its reach to pull water from lakes Texoma, Cooper/Chapman and Tawakoni, and is seeking final permit approval to begin the construction of the Lower Bois d'Arc Creek Reservoir in Fannin County. The $1.2 billion water source is expected to supply the district’s water needs through 2040.

Click here for a full history of the NTMWD.