Thursday, March 28, 2024

Systems that Work – How Southlake Maintains a Sustainable Water Infrastructure

Drinking water is essential to the well-being and health of those who live, work and play in Southlake.

The Southlake Public Works Department teams up with other City departments such as Finance and Planning and Development Services to invest in maintaining and updating our water infrastructure. Public Works utilizes a ranking system which identifies and prioritizes projects essential to maintain critical assets. The department also abides by Environmental Protection Agency guidelines to provide quality and safe drinking water.

Water quality is maintained daily by flushing water hydrants, taking samples and monitoring to ensure facility operations are working properly.

Earlier this year, the City invested in renovating the elevated storage tank located on Miron Drive. Southlake cleans and inspect our tanks to ensure they meet and exceed the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and American Water Works Association standards. After performing a series of inspections and cleanings, the tank was recommended to be repainted.

The City conducts annual inspections and cleanings on all water storage tanks to prevent a build-up of sediment which can settle in the bottom of the tank. Sediment left too long inside a storage tank could create a place for bacteria to form. When bacteria forms in a tank, the water in the tank can lose its disinfectant residual and adversely impact the water quality in the entire pressure plane or even an entire water system.

The renovation of the interior and exterior coating also prevents the corrosion of steel and the oxidation of the paint. The integrity of the water tower’s interior paint coating is essential to maintaining the infrastructure needed for quality and safe drinking water.   A smooth, non-porous surface helps ensure the tank is clean and free of issues.

The City also recently replaced 20-year-old pump valves at the T.W. King Booster Station. These valves play a critical role in the operation of the tank by pumping water from the City’s wholesale provider (City of Ft. Worth) to the water towers, which is then distributed to homes and commercial facilities in Southlake.

By strategically investing in public assets, such as water infrastructure systems, the City can continue to provide their customers with the highest quality drinking water.

For more information about water quality, visit our website. To review the 2020 Water Quality Report, click here.