Quality infrastructure is the foundation of a strong, healthy and vibrant community. As Southlake continues to grow, so will the need for infrastructure access, maintenance and replacement.

Over the last few months, contractors have been onsite at the Fuel Farm located by Brumlow Avenue and SH 26 for the Fuel Farm Water Extension Capital Improvement Project. The purpose of this project is to extend the existing water main, which ends at Brumlow Avenue, to loop back around to South Kimball traveling through the Fuel Farm industrial area.

These improvements will eliminate the existing dead-end mains by connecting the existing infrastructure with new infrastructure. It will also help improve water quality with better circulation in the water system, as well as provide additional fire protection in the event of an emergency.

Contractors have completed the water line improvements along Brumlow Avenue and additional water line improvements will occur on the Fuel Farm property.

The estimated cost of this project is $1.3 million with an expected completion date of April 2021.

Learn more about this and other CIP projects on our Capital Improvement Projects webpage.

With an annual consumption of an estimated of 2.8 billion gallons of water, making sure you have high quality drinking water straight to your faucet is one of the City of Southlake’s priorities.

Our team works diligently daily, managing infrastructure, maintenance and improvements.

“Each day, we do our best to make sure Southlake has clean and safe drinking water,” City of Southlake Water Supervisor Kyle Flanagan said. “There’s a lot of hard work that goes into making sure the community can turn on their faucet and fill a glass with water.”

Every day, a team member takes routine chlorine samples throughout the distribution system to monitor the water for any abnormalities. This equates to about 300 samples per month. Southlake Water Utilities also collects 30 bacteriological samples every other month, all in compliance with TCEQ and EPA requirements.

From water towers to storage facilities, the water team keeps them maintained and working property. This includes painting, cleaning, replacing equipment and restoring failed parts.

The team also conducts annual “flushing” to maintain a heathy water system.  Southlake Water Utilities monitors tank levels, chlorine levels and pressures using SCADA, and also utilizes the BEACON software to compile data to make decisions based off usage patterns of the City as a whole.

For more information about your water, visit www.SouthlakeWaterUtilities.com.

While the City of Southlake consistently invests in and maintains quality infrastructure, it is always important to understand how systems work and how you can help us keep Southlake special.

Backflow is a term that describes water flowing in the opposite way from its intended direction, either from a decrease in pressure in the drinking water supply lines or increase of pressure on the customer’s side. The biggest issue that backflow can potentially cause is water contamination, if the proper backflow prevention assemblies aren’t installed and maintained on your plumbing system.

Water is designed to flow towards the point of lowest pressure, therefore if a water main were to break or a surge of fire hydrants were opened to fight a fire, the pressure would drop, forcing the water to flow backwards and potentially carry contaminants into the waterlines. If there is an illegal cross-connection to a source of contamination, which is when a physical connection between the drinking water supply and a possible source of contamination or pollution collide, it could result in the water being unsafe to drink. The most frequent types of cross connections include a water hose in a pool or soapy bucket, water wells connected to irrigation systems, coffee makers and ice machines with direct water lines, and chemical injection units at restaurants.

The good news is that backflow can be prevented by utilizing the proper backflow prevention assembly or an air gap, which is a physical separation between the end of the water supply pipeline and the flood level of the fixture in question. A good example of an air gap is the distance between the bottom of your sink tap and the height of your sink bowl.

The City of Southlake conducts customer service inspections to analyze and remove current or potential cross connections on a consistent basis throughout the year. If you have recently received a letter from the City stating an assembly has not been tested in the last year and are unsure of your records, you can search search here for the last backflow test or call 817-748-8082 to update your file.

If you are a licensed Backflow Prevention Assembly Tester and you’re interested in becoming a registered to test in the City of Southlake, the City has partnered with VEPO LLC for an online database and documentation of backflow prevention and tester registration. Learn more about the process here.

The elevated storage tank located on Miron Drive is undergoing a makeover!

After conducting several inspections and tank cleaning processes, it was determined that the structure would undergo a renovation.

The City awarded the contract to Viking Industrial Painting to perform renovations and repaint the tank.

The 1.5 million gallon tank was originally constructed in 1999 and stores drinking water for residents. The renovation will help prevent corrosion of the steel and prevent oxidation of the paint.

Renovations include: interior and exterior sandblasting, prime coating and painting. Currently, the project is 90% complete.

By taking this proactive measure to maintain public assets such as the Miron Elevated Storage Tank, the City can continue to provide the highest standards and quality of life for Southlake residents along with safe drinking water.

Renovation is set to be concluded by May 2020. The estimated cost for this project is $623,000.

For additional information, please contact Public Works at 817-748-8098.

You turn on the sink to wash dishes or shower for the day, but probably don’t think about the process of getting water to your house. But there’s a lot of work behind the scenes before the water ever comes into your home.

The Southlake City Council approved an engineering services agreement with Freese and Nichols, Inc. during the February 4 session. Under the agreement, FNI will provide engineering design services not to exceed $318,171 for residual control systems located at the Pearson and T.W. King Pump Stations.

“The completed project will provide our water system operators with the capability to control chlorine residual levels within the water system per federal regulations,” Public Works Director Rob Cohen said. “Creating and eventually purchasing the systems is one way we’re investing in quality infrastructure for the community.” 

Once the design is complete, the City can plan to purchase and install the systems in the next several years.

The hypochlorite generation systems helps to keep the water disinfected and assists in emergency preparedness. The new systems are part of the City’s goals to continue to provide safe, compliant drinking water, optimize technology, as well as build and maintain our high quality infrastructure.

Funding for the design of the systems will be provided from the Utility Fund.