In a move that captured our attention in a Municipal Sewer & Water profile story back in September 2022, the North Texas Municipal Water District set an impressive benchmark for ecological responsibility while addressing its water issues. 

Their Bois d’Arc Lake construction project, northeast of Dallas, was far more than a mere dam construction. The initiative not only supplied a crucial water source for 2 million users in and around the Dallas metropolitan area, but also marked the district’s commitment to restoring the local ecosystem. Transforming 17,000 acres of former ranch and farmland into a flourishing forest and wetland, the NTMWD partnered with Houston-based Resource Environmental Solutions to plant 6.3 million native trees, restore over 8,500 acres of wetlands, and stabilize around 70 miles of creeks. 

Fast-forward to 2023, and the district’s dedication to environmental stewardship has garnered well-deserved national recognition. The American Water Works Association recently honored NTMWD with the 2023 Exemplary Source Water Protection Award for Large Water Systems. The award commends the district's innovative source water protection plans and their meticulous implementation, reaffirming that NTMWD isn't merely treating water but is deeply invested in preserving the quality of its source waters, all while keeping an eye on recreational
and wildlife benefits.

The award was presented during the AWWA Annual Conference & Exposition in Toronto, Canada, which took place June 11-14.

“Protecting source water is only the first step in water treatment,” says Zeke Campbell, NTMWD assistant deputy for water treatment and conveyance, who accepted the award on the district’s behalf. “It is vital to our mission to provide high quality, dependable service, and it provides the added benefit of clean water for recreation and wildlife.”

Recipients of the award must meet specific criteria outlined in the AWWA Standard for Source Water Protection, which provides technical standards and guidelines for protecting and preserving the quality of water sources used for drinking water. The criteria include source water characterization; source water protection goals; source water protection action plans; implementation; and periodic evaluation and revision of the program.

To help fulfill its source water protection goals, NTMWD characterized land uses and potential sources of pollution around Lavon Lake and Bois d’Arc Lake, two of their major water sources. Watershed protection plans were developed in close coordination with local stakeholders who work across multiple jurisdictions within each watershed.

“The plans provide a roadmap to reducing pollutants and protecting water quality in the rapidly growing region,” says David Cowan, NTMWD watershed manager. “Working closely with local stakeholders, state agencies and regional partners, we help ensure residents and businesses in NTMWD’s service area have access to safe, reliable water supplies now and for future generations.”

Protecting source water involves monitoring to determine how water quality changes over time and modeling to estimate pollutant loads. Implementation projects such as those outlined in the Lavon Lake and Bois d’Arc Lake watershed protection plans help slow erosion and reduce pollutant loading in the lakes. Projects such as tree planting along eroded streams and installing low-impact development features in McKinney and Wylie help improve water quality by reducing stormwater pollution.

To learn more about NTMWD’s efforts to protect our source water and how we can all do our part to ensure safe, high-quality drinking water around the clock, visit ntmwd.com/watershed.