Background
I started doing independent research, with the guidance of some of my teachers, about the water in Dallas June 2022. I decided to split my research into three categories: demand, supply, and risks/threats. After spending the month of June doing independent research to answer my questions within these three categories, I thought that I would reach out to people who would be very knowledgeable in this field. I reached out to reporters and journalists who had previously written about the water in Dallas to see if I could have a discussion with them. I also reached out to the City of Dallas, and two people working for Dallas Water Utilities responded to my request, and I had a great discussion with them. They helped me answer a lot of my critical outstanding questions. I spent the month of July continuing my research and preparing a summary of my findings along with my detailed notes. I also started a blog, which you are reading now. The two months I spent doing research led me to here, finally finishing my research report. Below is a summary and some of the most important findings/conclusions from my research.
Summary
Safety
Dallas’ water is very safe. In fact, Dallas’ water is rated a “Superior Water System,” which is the highest rating given by the State of Texas for water quality. Dallas also recently won the Environmental Protection Agency’s Region 6 Environmental Excellence Award for Public Water Supply, which means that Dallas has some of the best drinking water within five states, including Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and New Mexico. Dallas’ water is tested between 40 and 50 thousand times per month, so the water quality is constantly being monitored.
Sustainability
Although Dallas’ current connected water supply will not last for more than 15 years, Dallas has a comprehensive plan to increase the water supply to make sure that the city has enough water for decades to come. Dallas’ plans to increase the water supply are outlined in the 500-page 2014 Long Range Water Supply Plan. Dallas’ projects to increase the water supply are already funded, and the first one is currently under construction.
Additional risks
No matter the quality of a water system, there are always going to be risks, both to the quality and quantity of the water. DWU currently does a great job of mitigating risks. However, there are still unknowns about whether or not Dallas will face similar issues as other places in the United States.
Findings/Conclusions
Demand: driven by population growth, water demand expected to go up by 70% in the next 50 years.
· Dallas uses 470 million gallons a day (MGD) among 3.2 million people for an average usage of of 145 gallons per person per day.
· Dallas’ water is used by both residents and customer cities.
· Dallas’ demand will go up to 700 MGD by 2070, but it will be split among 6.4 million people for an average usage of 110 gallons per person per day.
· Dallas’ population growth will be around 1.45% per year, a slight decrease from the 1.6% growth per annum that Dallas saw the past few years.
· Dallas’ current conservation efforts will help save over 100 million gallons per year, and future conservation efforts will help save even more water.
Supply: new infrastructure to increase Dallas’ water supply to meet demand through 2070.
· Dallas’ current water supply can sustainably produce over 500 MGD of clean water.
· Dallas gets its water from seven sources, including six lakes, also called reservoirs (Lake Grapevine, Lake Lewisville, Lake Ray Hubbard, Lake Ray Roberts, Lake Fork, Lake Tawakoni) and one river system (Elm Fork of Trinity River).
· Dallas’ 38.3 inches of yearly rainfall fill up Dallas’ reservoirs, and all of Dallas reservoirs, with the exception of Lake Fork are above 85% capacity.
· By 2070, Dallas will complete four projects to increase the sustainable supply capacity from 500 MGD to 850 MGD, and these projects will cost over $1.8 billion.
· Dallas has 3 different water treatment plants, 2 wastewater treatment plants, 22 pump stations, 15 wastewater pump stations, and 21 storage tanks. Dallas has over 5,000 miles of water main pipelines 4,000 miles of wastewater main pipelines, and 3,000 miles of storm drain pipelines.
· Dallas is currently upgrading its old/existing infrastructure to make sure that it is effective for years to come.
· Dallas uses chloramine (ozone), which is combination of chlorine and ammonia, to treat its water. Chloramine is safer than just chlorine because chlorine causes a reaction in the water that produces trihalomethanes, which are not good for humans.
Risks/threats: no imminent risks, but concerns to stay on top of.
· Dallas’ water is incredibly safe, but threats like in Flint, Michigan, where underfunded maintenance budgets and aged infrastructure allowed lead to seep into its water supply; threats like in Austin, Texas, where population increases outpaced existing wastewater treatment capacity, causing it to overflow into its clean water system; and threats like in Hinkley, California, where chemicals used to treat the water were actually toxic to humans can cast doubt on whether or not Dallas will face similar or other issues.
· Questions below bring up issues that Dallas has a risk of facing.
o Even though the FDA regulates safe levels for certain chemicals, are there certain unknown harmful effects of these chemicals? What is being done to ensure we continue to regulate the safety of the water above and beyond testing for known harmful chemicals?
o Is DWU’s current operating budget sufficient to upgrade the existing infrastructure?
o Is DWU’s future operating budget enough to maintain future infrastructure?
o As climate change continues, what are the effects on the water supply?
o Although the City of Dallas is being planful about its next steps, will there be any other unforeseen events that could put the water supply in jeopardy?
