The North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD) has been providing wholesale water services to communities in North Texas since 1956 with the vision of "Regional Service through Unity: meeting our region’s needs today and tomorrow." NTMWD now serves more than 1.8 million people that live in 80 communities across 10 counties. The service area covers 2,200 square miles and includes some of the fastest-growing cities in North Texas.

NTMWD uses a comprehensive strategy of water conservation, water reuse and new water supplies to ensure communities have enough water now and in the future. Water conservation and reuse will provide for nearly 30 percent of the region’s future supplies, and NTMWD is committed to local and regional water conservation awareness. They support the regional Water is Awesome campaign with two other major water providers, as well as the conservation efforts of member and customer cities, and manage a local awareness campaign, Know More. Water Less.

During the hot Texas summer, up to 60 percent of water used by some homeowners is for landscaping. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that as much as 50 percent  of the water used outdoors is wasted from inefficient watering methods and systems. To reduce outdoor water waste, NTMWD collaborated with Texas A&M AgriLife to create the Water My Yard tool that provides free, customized lawn watering advice based on research and local meteorological data collected by 27 weather stations. This program expanded and is now offered across the state. Homeowners can learn how to have a healthy lawn and save water at WaterMyYard.org or by downloading the app.

Another strategy to extend existing water supplies is increasing water reuse capabilities at the East Fork Water Reuse Project. This 1,840-acre constructed wetland is one of the largest manmade wetlands that diverts and captures treated wastewater effluent flows from the east fork of the Trinity River. Sediment basins, sunlight, millions of native aquatic plants and microorganisms work together to naturally treat the water. This allows the district to reuse up to 90 million gallons per day that can then travel through a 44-mile long pipeline to Lavon Lake, the primary reservoir. See this project firsthand at the John Bunker Sands Wetland Center (WetlandCenter.com).

To expand the system and increase available supplies, NTMWD is a building the first major reservoir in Texas in 30 years: Bois d’Arc Lake. Located in Fannin County, Bois d’Arc Lake will help meet the District’s water needs through 2040. As part of building the lake, environmental enhancements are being made to more than 17,000 acres nearby, including the creation of new wetlands, planting of about 5 million trees and making improvements to more than 70 miles of streams (BoisdArcLake.org). 

NTMWD continues to make other critical investments to water treatment facilities, pipelines and wastewater infrastructure. With population expected to double in the next 50 years, innovations are constantly being explored that improve systems and lesson stress on the environment while minimizing costs.

For more information visit NTMWD.org.