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NTMWD Lifts Extreme Winter Weather Conservation Measures

February 17, 2021

Water Demands Returning to Normal Levels
February 25, 2021 – 11 .a.m.  – UPDATE

The North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD) lifts its request to curtail or limit non-essential water use within its service area. In coordination with the cities and utilities served by NTMWD, the District has been able to consistently produce enough treated water to meet the water demands over the past several days.

“It was a true regional effort,” said Billy George, NTMWD Assistant Deputy – Water. “We asked the cities and water utilities we serve as well as residents and business to help by limiting water use for essential needs only while crews worked non-stop to increase treatment and distribution capacity. We have completed major assessments and are undergoing critical repairs, but we are back at normal operating levels for this time of year. The coordinated regional effort to respond to the extreme weather even has been exceptional by all involved.”

With extreme weather conditions throughout the North Texas region during the week of Feb. 14, NTMWD experienced unprecedented high water demands that outpaced its ability to refill city water storage tanks at the rates requested.

NTMWD’s Wylie Water Treatment complex normally sees winter water demands from the entities it serves at around 250 million gallons of water per day (MGD). Once the extreme weather set in coupled with loss of power for so many, those demands increased to over 350 MGD in a very short timeframe. NTMWD crews also faced the task of dealing with frozen systems which hampered efforts to increase treatment capacity to meet the exceptionally high demands. Cities and water utilities who purchase water from NTMWD were also experiencing frozen infrastructure and power outages which in some cases prevented their ability to receive water supplies.


Request for Additional Water Conservation Continues

February 22, 2021 – 3 p.m. – UPDATE

We appreciate everyone’s efforts in our region to be mindful of efficient water use as NTMWD continues to assess any damages to our infrastructure and water treatment facilities resulting from last week’s unprecedented freezing temperatures. NTMWD asks for those we serve to continue to practice elevated conservation efforts through later this week until we are able to complete all assessments and make critical repairs.

As a reminder, NTMWD is a wholesale water provider and the treated water produced and delivered to our cities and utilities is safe to drink and use. NTMWD serves about 80 communities in North Texas, and we recommend contacting your direct water utility for any updates with service to your area or to report outages. We have a list of our Member Cities and Customers on our website – /our-water-system/.

The District continues coordination efforts with cities and water utilities and will provide an update once all operations return to normal.

 


Water Demands Less, but Still Need to Conserve

February 20, 2021 – 5 p.m. – UPDATE

As a result of the proactive actions taken across the region by residents and water utilities, the North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD) is able to ease its request to curtail non-essential water use within its service area. Largely due to individuals conserving water and proactive leak isolation efforts by the cities and utilities served by NTMWD, the District has been able to consistently produce enough treated water to meet the water demands over the past several days.

While the extreme weather conditions are no longer affecting the North Texas region, NTMWD is still experiencing elevated water demands. As our region continues to thaw out from this historic freeze, some areas may still see an increase in ruptured pipes which has an effect on system-wide water availability. Residents can help by limiting use of washing machines, dishwashers and taking shorter showers. Small measures like this are vital to ensuring water for firefighting, medical facilities, and basic human health and sanitation. Please check with your city or water utility for additional guidance.

“We are asking everyone’s assistance for a few more days,” said Billy George, NTMWD Assistant Deputy, Water. “It’s an unfortunate situation where as temperatures rise, so does the likelihood of burst pipes in homes and businesses. It’s important to keep up our conservation efforts now so that we can continue to refill our cities and water utilities water towers and storage tanks.”

The District continues coordination efforts with cities and water utilities and will provide an update once all operations return to normal.


February 19, 2021 – 11:45 a.m. – UPDATE

Thanks to very proactive action taken across the region by residents and water utilities, NTMWD has been able to produce enough treated water to meet basic water demands. Crews have also been successful in increasing treatment capacity for city and utility water towers and storage tanks. More water is needed, and it will take some days to fill all towers and tanks. NTMWD requests that everyone continue to use water only for what is needed and to isolate any water leaks immediately. Our crews will continue to work around the clock to improve and maintain the availability of water for all those we serve.

We ask that everyone continue to conserve over the next several days and limit non-essential water use. As our region begins to thaw out from this historic freeze, some areas will see an increase in ruptured pipes which has an effect on system-wide water availability. Residents can help by limiting use of washing machines, dishwashers and limiting showers or bathing. Small measures like this are vital to ensuring water for firefighting, medical facilities, and basic human health and sanitation.

As home heat is restored and temperatures rise above freezing over the next few days, please drip faucets only where necessary and keep cabinet doors open to expose piping to home heat. Continue measures to protect outdoor hose bibs and faucets.

As a reminder, NTMWD is a wholesale water provider, and we recommend contacting your direct water utility to report outages or for any updates with service to your area. We have a list of our Member Cities and Customers on our website.

/our-water-system/

If you experience a broken pipe, immediately shut off your water main valve. If you need assistance, contact your city or water utility provider. We have more information on what to do if you have a broken pipe on our website.

 


NTMWD Requests Immediate Curtailment of Non-Essential Water Use

Exceptional Water Demands Severely Stressing Water Production in Region

WYLIE, TX – February 17, 2021 – The North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD) has initiated immediate curtailment of non-essential water use within its service area. With extreme weather conditions continuing throughout the North Texas region, NTMWD is experiencing unprecedented high water demands as a result of our customers needs to fill distribution tanks within their systems. These demands are outpacing the District’s ability to recharge city supplies at normal rates. The cities and utilities served by NTMWD are asked to preserve water supplies for essential uses vital for firefighting, medical facilities, and basic human health and sanitation. Residents can help by limiting usage of items such as washing machines, dishwashers and limiting showers or bathing.

“The District is confident, with public assistance, that essential water demands can be met by eliminating other water uses,” states Billy George, NTMWD Assistant Deputy, Water. “We ask the cities and water utilities served by NTMWD to share this notice and to take any measures necessary to assist in reducing non-essential water use,” George adds.

NTMWD’s Wylie Water Treatment complex has experienced prolonged regional water demands at levels above 350 million gallons of water per day (MGD), significantly higher than normal for winter months. NTMWD personnel are actively working to place additional treatment capacities online, however thawing frozen systems does take time. We are hopeful to have additional capacity online this evening or in the morning. It is critical at this time and until additional supplies are available to lower water demands to only essential water uses.

Immediate curtailment measures include:

  • Isolate any water leaks immediately
  • Do not hoard water
  • Do not wash clothes or dishes, wash only when necessary
  • Delay showers and only hand-bathe when necessary
  • When possible, do not drip your faucets
    • If you must drip or stream your faucet, collect the water for other use such as filling toilets, washing dishes, etc.
  • Do not use the garbage disposal, place food scraps in garbage can, (composting is a great alternative)
  • Turn off the water to brush teeth, shave and soap up in the shower
  • Ensure that hose bibs and faucets are protected from freezing weather
  • Locate and repair any water leaks
  • When cooking, peel and clean vegetables in a large bowl instead of under running water

The District continues coordination efforts with cities and water utilities to ensure our ability to meet the water demand for essential services.

Read about what to do if you experience a pipe break or download a quick guide.