Plano's Water Source
The City of Plano contracts with the North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD) for the water supply to our community. Since its founding in 1951 by ten cities, including Plano, the primary concern and responsibility of the NTMWD has been the conservation and preservation of clean, high-quality, safe drinking water. This concern is shared by the City of Plano, who with the NTMWD has combined proper operation and up-to-date technology to provide consistently safe, reliable and quality drinking water to Plano water consumers.
The NTMWD obtains surface water from three sources: Lake Lavon, Plano’s primary water source, and Lakes Texoma and Cooper, our supplemental water sources. The Texas Commission on Evironmental Quality (TCEQ) reviews all of Texas’ drinking water sources. The source water assessment process will be completed within three years. It is important to protect your drinking water by protecting your water source.
Click here to view a demonstration of the Urban Water Cycle courtesy of ActewAGL
Protecting Our Water Sources
Plano’s storm drain system is designed to capture and remove excess water from our streets and adjacent properties during rainy weather. Plano’s storm drains do not flow into our wastewater treatment plants. Rather, they transport and deposit stormwater into the nearest river, lake, stream or wetland – untreated.
Materials dumped into or near storm drains, such as grass clippings, litter and construction waste, clog our storm drains, creating flooding during rain events before eventually deteriorating into our water sources. Soapy water used for cleaning vehicles and paint brushes, leftover pesticides, motor oil and household and industrial chemicals dumped into or near storm drains, kill fish, increase weed and algae growth and create contaminants in our water sources. Many of our contaminated waterways eventually flow into our drinking water supplies, which has spawned the phrase "if you dump it, you drink it!" As a reminder that Plano’s storm drains provide a direct link between our daily activities and water contamination, the City of Plano has developed a nationally replicated stormtile program.
Blue rectangular stormtiles are appearing on storm drains across Plano, bearing the message "No Dumping, Drains to Water Source." The tiles are an important educational alert that any substance going into our storm drains ends up in our waterways.
To report illegal dumping into our storm drains or waterways, contact the City of Plano Environmental Health Department (972-941-7143).
Be Part of The Solution
Never dump anything adjacent to, or directly into, a storm drain (this includes grass clippings and other landscape debris).
Use fertilizers and pesticides sparingly (or not at all). Buy only the amount needed; read and follow the instructions on the label for use, amount, storage, cleanup and disposal; use only during dry-weather periods to prevent run-off.
Clean up after your pets, disposing of pet feces in a plastic bag in the trash, not leaving it on the lawn.
Dispose of unwanted chemical, automotive, pool, paint products through a special collection by Plano’s Environmental Waste Services Division. Call 972-769-4150 to schedule a collection.
Visit a North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD) Transfer Station to recycle motor oil at no cost.
Visit Plano's Household Chemical Reuse Center.
Stocked with free reusable household, automotive, pool, lawn products. The center is located at 4120 W. Plano Parkway, adjacent to the City of Plano Warehouse. Click here for more information or call 972-769-4150 for additional information.
To report illegal dumping into our storm drains or waterways, contact the City of Plano Environmental Health Department 972-941-7143.
Treatment Process
Details on the Water Treatment Process (59 kb, PDF)
Plano's Distribution System
The picture to the right is the wooden infrastructure of a 14-million gallon ground water storage tank, completed during Summer, 1999, at Plano’s Ridgeview Pump Station.
Plano's Water Distribution System:
11 Elevated Towers
12 Ground Storage Tanks
54.5 Million Gallon Water Storage Capacity
5 Pump Stations
225 Million Gallon Daily Pumping Capacity
1,080 Miles of Water Mains
65,965 Metered Service Connections
For more information on how the Public Works department manages your drinking water click here.
NTMWD Water Analysis Reports
Click here to view water analysis reports from the North Texas Municipal Water District.
Summertime Taste and Odor of Tap Water
(Information provided by the North Texas Municipal Water District)
Is the water safe to drink?
Yes. The taste and odor is a palatability issue. There are no health hazards created regardless of the taste and odor.
What causes the taste and odor changes?
An “algal bloom”, a natural occurrence in all surface water supplies, is responsible for the taste and odor changes in the water supply. Algal blooms usually occur in late July and into August each year. (NOTE: Due to the extremely low lake levels last year, vegetation on the lake bed grew very rapidly. This year may actually be a little worse for taste and odor due to this overgrowth of vegetation.
What are the conditions for an algal bloom to occur in Lake Lavon?
Nutrients must be present – such as nitrogen, phosphorous and calcium, which are derived from decaying vegetation in the lake.
Turbidity has lessened – the turbidity or cloudiness of the lake water has cleared up, allowing the penetration of the sunlight. This occurs due to lack of rainfall.
Temperature increase – the optimum temperature range of the lake water for an algal bloom to occur is between 80° and 85°. This is provided through many hot summer days.
When all conditions are met, photosynthesis will take place and the algae will grow. Algae species, such as anabaena secrete an “oily” substance from their cells that causes an odor in the water supply. Aquatic fungi, actinomycetes, grow on dead and decaying algae and cause an earthy taste in the water.
What steps does the District take to control the taste and odor?
NTMWD utilizes several steps to control the taste and odor produced by the algal blooms. Laboratory personnel, through daily analysis, perform algal counts and can determine the onset of an algal bloom. With the onset of an algal bloom, additional chemicals are added to the treatment process. Potassium permanganate is added as an oxidizing agent in reducing the odor levels. To reduce the unpleasant taste, activated carbon is used as an absorption media. Each of these chemicals is removed during the treatment process prior to delivery of the potable water supply. Chlorine, which is used as a disinfectant in the treatment process, also aids in odor reduction.
Current Lake Level at Lavon Army Corp of Engineers
Current Lake Level at Lavon
U.S. Drought Monitor
U.S. Drought Monitor