Water/Wastewater and Engineering

RICK SHAFFER Director

Water Utilities provide treated drinking water to customers, water for fire protection, and treats water after it has been used so that it can be safely returned back into the natural environment . With a staff of 52 employees, Water Utilities is comprised of six divisions – Administration, Water Purification Plant, Maintenance, Rehabilitation, Engineering, and Water Reclamation Facility . (Note: Beginning in FY23, the Engineering Division has merged with the Capital Projects Department and the Transportation and Public Works Department .) We strive to provide reliable, high-quality, and affordable water and wastewater service for our customers by planning for future growth, securing dependable long-term water supplies, promoting water education and conservation, proper maintenance of existing infrastructure, and improving treatment capabilities .

Water Utilities provides service to approximately 13,400 retail customers, and wholesale service for the City of Hudson Oaks . A comparison of the city’s water and wastewater rates to other similar-sized utilities as well as other local utilities shows that Weatherford’s combined water and wastewater rates are 4% below average for the average residential customer . Our services also include: ● Operate and maintain a 14 MGD water purification plant ● Operate and maintain a 4 .5 MGD water reclamation facility ● Operate and maintain a water distribution system of 302 miles of pipeline, 7 pump stations, and 10 water storage tanks ● Operate and maintain a wastewater collection system of 223 miles of pipeline and 24 lift stations ● Provide engineering design, construction, and inspection services ● Review design plans and permits for residential and commercial development projects ● Provide public education on water conservation practices, watershed protection, and wastewater disposal

Much of Texas, including Weatherford and Parker County, has suffered through one of the driest spells over the last 12 months . When comparing rainfall over the first 9 calendar months of 2022 (12 .82”, Jan-Sep) and even over the entire fiscal year (16 .80”, Oct-Sep), this last year has been the 3rd driest for Weatherford in recorded history (18912022) . Weatherford has received less than half of the average amount of rainfall we normally receive . From a meteorological perspective, it is interesting to note the low amounts of rainfall this year are comparable to that of 1954 (during the middle of a 7-year period commonly referred to as the Texas Drought of Record) and 1934 (during the middle of the 1930’s Dust Bowl) . As a result of the drought conditions, Weatherford implemented Stage 1 drought restrictions in July 2022, and began pumping water from Lake Benbrook in August 2022 .

After nearly two decades of planning, studies, permitting, design and construction, the reclaimed water system project is operational! This project allows Weatherford to take advantage of and better utilize one of its most important resources – its water supplies . It nearly doubles the amount of Weatherford’s legal water rights availability . This is a momentous occasion that will have lasting impacts on Weatherford’s water supply capability and resources . Weatherford will initially be able to reclaim about 2 .1 million gallons per day (MGD) of water, on average, and that volume can increase to 4 .5 MGD as the city continues to grow . We would like to thank our city staff from the Water Utility, Electric Utility, Finance, and Information & Technology departments; our current and previous City Administrators from the City Manager’s Office; our consultants from Freese & Nichols, Teague Nall & Perkins, Baird Hampton & Brown, Gupta & Associates, North Point Technology, Perkins Engineering Consultants, and Peloton Land Solutions; our attorneys from Lloyd Gosselink Rochelle & Townsend, and Taylor Olson Adkins Sralla & Elam (TOASE); the Texas Water Development Board; our contractors BAR Constructors, Reytech Services, ANA Site Construction, and all of the many subcontractors; our partners at the Tarrant Regional Water District; and of course our Municipal Utility Board and City Council who have supported this project from the very beginning . This project would not be possible without everyone’s efforts and support .

Residential Water Rates

Commercial Water Rates

Residential Wastewater Rates

Weatherford’s Combined Rates

Other’s Combined Rates

● Produced 1 .85 billion gallons of drinking water from the city’s water purification plant (18% increase over FY21) ● Treated approximately 946 million gallons of wastewater at the city’s water reclamation facility ● TCEQ conducted inspections of the city’s wastewater collection system, water reclamation facility, and the Lake Weatherford dam – received zero violations ● Completed construction of process improvements and pump station at the Water Reclamation

Facility to pump reclaimed water to Lake

Weatherford

● Performed 1,670 plan reviews for residential and commercial projects initiated by developers ● Collected over 1,000 lbs of unused medicine from residents during two Take Back Meds Programs (Oct, Apr), helping to protect our environment and water supplies; also collected 274 pounds of medical needles and other “sharps” ● Updated the Water and Wastewater Impact Fee

Program ● Conducted numerous public outreach initiatives on how customers can reduce water usage and their utility bill

● Responded to 2,572 work orders for water, and 1,390 work orders for wastewater ● City crew replaced/installed 4,800 linear feet of water and wastewater pipeline at 66% of contractor unit cost ● Contractors replaced/installed 17,750 linear feet of water, wastewater and reclaimed water pipeline ● Rehabilitated lift station #1 (by city staff) and lift station #17 (by contractor)

● Construction of granular activated carbon (GAC) filter contactors at the Water Purification Plant for additional taste and odor treatment capability ● Start design for expansion of the Water Purification Plant ● Construction of an additional reclaimed water project to provide up to 1 MGD of additional water supplies ● Replace 10,000 linear feet of aging water and wastewater pipeline with city crews and 20,000 linear feet with contractors ● Replace and increase capacity of approximately 6,200 LF of wastewater trunk line to the WRF ● Construction of an additional water storage tank to serve development around Lake Weatherford ● Rehabilitate the 2-MG College Hill Ground Storage Tank ● Rehabilitate of Lift Station #3 and expansion of Lift Station #8 ● Construction of Lift Station #26 ● Update the city’s Water and Wastewater Master Plans