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GOAL 5:

DALLAS PROTECTS ITS WATER RESOURCES AND ITS COMMUNITIES FROM FLOODING AND DROUGHT

Targets

1% DECREASE IN PERCAPITA ANNUAL WATER CONSUMPTION.

 

5% AND 10% OF WATER FOR INDIRECT REUSE IMPLEMENTATION BY 2030 AND 2050, RESPECTIVELY.

 

30%, 60% AND 100% REDUCTION IN NUMBER OF IMPAIRED WATERBODIES LISTED IN THE WATERSHED BY 2030, 2040 AND 2050, RESPECTIVELY.

 

45% AND 100% REDUCTION IN GHG EMISSIONS FROM TREATMENT FACILITIES BY 2035 AND 2050, RESPECTIVELY.

 Q4 Progress

Reported October 2024

The water and wastewater sectors together comprise less than 1 percent of the Dallas’ GHG emissions; however, climatic variation from flooding to drought forms the largest single risk posed by climate change. Dallas Water Utilities has proactively planned for future conditions as a part of standard operations for years. This plan builds upon these ongoing robust plans and related actions. In FY 23-24, 13 actions from this sector, with 47 milestones will be initiated. Implementation of these new milestones will involve collaboration between the following City departments:

  • Dallas Water Utilities

  • Environmental Quality & Sustainability


 
Note: Actions marked as ongoing span multiple fiscal years, meaning efforts will be carried out continuously and therefore will not be marked complete until the end of this fiscal year.

Year Four Work Plan

COMPLETE: 47 Milestones
WR1: Continue investment in public awareness campaigns to increase knowledge of the value of water and importance of conservation.
  • Continue City Leadership and Commitment Grant Program to support green infrastructure
  • Continue to offer rebate and incentive-based programs to promote water conservation to resourcefully manage the City’s annual GPCD
  • Continue to evaluate and assess program performance to ascertain program viability.
  • Continue to offer education and outreach opportunities to promote water conservation to resourcefully manage the City’s GPCD
  • Continue the ‘Save Water. Nothing Can Replace It.’ local public awareness campaign, promoting local conservation programs and educational opportunities for DWU customers
  • Maintain SaveDallasWater.org website
  • Continue to improve social media strategies
  • Evaluate social media engagement platforms
  • Evaluate and participate in partnerships with other agencies for public awareness activities
  • Continue activities and efforts related to the "Defend Your Drains" public awareness campaign
  • Continue the North Texas Regional unified public awareness campaign
  • Continue to partner with other agencies in the North Texas Regional Water Conservation Symposium
  • Continue water conservation outreach efforts to support wholesale customer cities
     
WR2: Continue investment in leak detection and expand programs to reduce overall water loss through the conveyance systems.
  • Continue existing leak detection programs
  • Continue requesting and tracking TWDB Annual Water Conservation Reports for wholesale customer cities, which include 5- and 10-year water loss targets
     
WR4: Encourage businesses and residents to plant drought-tolerant and native vegetation or xeriscape to reduce irrigation water use.
  • Continue to offer free automatic irrigation system evaluations and promote best management practices on outdoor watering
  • Develop additional resources to promote reducing outdoor water use
  • Continue ongoing education and outreach programs to promote best management practices that recognize landscape design that reduces water consumption
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WR5: Continue to monitor and protect water quality and implement improvement projects in the watershed.
  • Continue watershed Protection Programs
  • Participate in the Upper Trinity River Basin Water Quality Compact
  • Participate with USGS and other local entities in stream flow and water quality sampling
  • Participate in Zebra Mussel study and monitoring with USGS
  • Update current Stormwater Quality Monitoring Program to include other surface water bodies and expand upon parameters monitored
  • Explore feasibility of a site specific TMDL Plan for White Rock Creek to protect public health
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WR6: Continue to protect and monitor water quality by tracking emerging contaminants that may impact public health.
  • With Parks and Recreation, Public Works, and Development Services develop a plan to educate and support customers in regulatory-driven programs for lead and copper monitoring within schools, childcare centers, and public spaces
  • Participate with USGS and other entities in Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) study in the DFW area
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WR7: Use FEMA community rating system to educate and protect communities from flooding.
  • Use rating system to educate flood-prone communities
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WR8: Complete the implementation of major planned and ongoing drainage infrastructure projects to improve community resilience to flooding.
  • Continue construction of Mill Creek Drainage Relief Tunnel scheduled for completion in 2023
  • Continue acquisition of parcels for the Dallas Floodway Extension (DFE)
  • Continue to support the USACE design process for Dallas Floodway Extension
  • Continue to support design builds efforts of Dallas Floodway (DF)
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WR9: Initiate a comprehensive storm drainage system assessment and planning process.
  • Continue comprehensive storm drainage assessment activities that will identify resources and organizational needs, assess infrastructure condition, identify critical projects, and evaluate stormwater utility funding needs
  • Identify measures and priorities to reduce flooding now and in the future
  • Identify critical projects to be funded through long-term CIP
  • Evaluate funding mechanisms to implement critical projects
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WR11: Continue monitoring, evaluating, and updating the drought contingency plan.
  • Continue to monitor and evaluate effectiveness of the Drought Contingency Plan
  • Update Drought Contingency Plan as necessary
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WR12: Continue contingency planning to protect and maintain service of key water infrastructure facilities from extreme weather events
  • Evaluate potential to install secondary power sources for critical infrastructure
  • Evaluate recommended risk management strategies developed as part of a completed Risk and Resilience Assessment for DWU’s critical water facilities to plan and prioritize future mitigation measures
  • Update Risk Resilience Assessment Report as necessary
  • Update Continuity of Operations Plan DWU Annex as necessary
  • Evaluate potential ways to go off-grid for wastewater
  • Initiate Department Wide Security Master Plan Update (Water, Wastewater, and Stormwater)
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WR13: Evaluate new technologies to lower nutrient releases into the Trinity Watershed from wastewater treatment plants and incorporate as appropriate.
  • Evaluate improvements to existing process utilizing new technology to improve water quality
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WR14: Evaluate new or improved operational strategies and technologies to optimize the use of chemicals and reduce energy usage at water and wastewater treatment facilities.
  • Evaluate improvements to existing process and procedures to optimize water and wastewater treatment
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WR15: Continue investment in sewer collection system to reduce inflow/infiltration (I/I) to improve water quality and reduce energy usage.
  • Continue aggressive wastewater internal inspection, cleaning, and repair activities
  • Implement activities in the SSO initiative and report to TCEQ annually
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