North Texas Municipal Water District expected to raise city rates

The rate will be considered for approval by the water district board in September, according to Janet Rummel, NTMWD public relations and communications officer.

The NTMWD proposed rate increase is needed for a variety of major capital projects that are either underway or planned for the shared regional water system, Rummel said.

A number of the projects “are located in the northern part of the system, which directly benefits residents in McKinney, Frisco and surrounding areas,” she said.

Continuing projects include 6 miles of treated water pipeline from McKinney to Princeton, which costs $9 million, and about 5 miles of 72- and 84-inch treated water pipeline totaling $17.5 million. Both projects are expected to be completed in 2018 and will serve the northern part of the water system better.

Additional continuing projects include the expansion of the Wylie Water Treatment Plant IV. The $88.5 million project will provide additional treatment capacity and is expected to be finished in early 2019.

The water rate increase will also help fund future projects beginning in 2018. These projects include the $1.2 billion Lower Bois d’Arc Creek Reservoir Project, a regional water system operations center and treated water service pump station improvements.

Construction on the Lower Bois d’Arc Creek Reservoir in Fannin County is expected to begin in 2018. The project is the district’s long-term strategy for sustaining the region’s rapid growth.

The regional water system operations center located in Wylie is under design and is projected to cost $11 million.

Improvements to the treated water service pump station include upgrading pumps and mechanical and electrical components. This project will cost $7 million, Rummel said.