NTMWD General Manger Jenna Covington, Assistant General Manager Billy George and CEO Jeane Chipperfield presented the information during the June 23 council meeting.
The details
The projects include a $525 million investment in two new pipelines transporting additional water from Lake Texoma to the Leonard and Wylie water treatment plants. Once complete, it will add about 90 million gallons per day of pipeline capacity from the lake by 2030, George said.
The project also makes use of existing supply by blending more salty water from Lake Texoma with water from Lavon Lake and Bois d’Arc Lake. It will also help the district meet peak summer demands, George said.
Additionally, district staff are planning a $240 million project to expand pump stations and a new pipeline from Leonard lake. The new pipeline will deliver water from Bois d’Arc to the eastern section of the district’s service area.
Additionally, staff will apply for a SWIFT grant, a program meant to help water districts with funding water management strategies, from the Texas Water Development Board. If approved, the SWIFT funding would be used for the projects.
“We anticipate that we would save ... about $115 million,” Chipperfield said.
What else
George said district staff are examining long-range strategies that could be implemented by 2040, including new groundwater supplies, exploring additional reuse water technologies for treatment, connecting to existing reservoirs and desalination of Lake Texoma to reduce high salinity from the Red River basin deposits.
“We’re looking under every stone,” George said.
Other potential strategies include purchasing and transferring water from the Toledo Bend Reservoir near the Texas and Louisiana border, and tapping into new lakes to supply water.
Also of note
In an effort to better conserve water, George said the district is partnering with Tarrant Regional Water District to hire outside consultants focusing on conservation, sustainable land use, zoning and development strategy recommendations.
“The biggest expensive [in the water fund] by far is the expense we pay for raw water and waste water treatment,” City Manager Don Magner said.
Near-term strategies include new irrigation systems to increase water-saving measures, park and athletic field conservation measures, and rebates for irrigation improvements.
The goal is to promote regional engagement with municipalities and community stakeholders.
“These are on a broad spectrum because the need is very much there,” George said.
